If you have been watching local TV or listening to the radio in Alabama I am sure you have heard all the press about the "Group" that is trying to push legislation on gambling in Alabama. They have lots of money (although they refuse to reveal just who "they" are) and have been using personal attacks against the Governor of Alabama to meet their goal of creating a “Gambling Monopoly” in the state. I am posting here the information Governor Riley has on his web site so you can learn about the 'Saul Alinsky’‘ type tactics they are using. To read the entire article you can paste:

                              http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20090415/OPINION0101/904140334/1006/OPINION

into your browser or simply go here.

ALABAMA VOICES: Not 'sweet' for you

If you've watched TV, listened to the radio or gone to your mailbox lately, you've no doubt seen or heard a massive advertising campaign aimed at convincing people to vote for a gambling bill that its supporters call the "Sweet Home Alabama" plan.

Those of us who oppose illegal gambling don't have millions to spend on ads, but we do have the facts on our side. When you really look at this plan you realize it should be called "Sweet Hoax Alabama" because that's exactly what it is.

Supporters of this gambling plan claim it will legalize electronic "bingo" and bring a windfall of tax dollars into our state. But here are some things you probably don't know about it. Did you know:

The plan was hatched by a small group that will make millions of dollars off gambling? During testimony before a Senate committee, one of the plan's supporters said "the group" wrote the bill and gave it to legislators. Who's in "the group"? Well, they refuse to say even though the press and others have been asking. Anytime someone refuses to tell you who's behind a proposal, that's when a red flag should go up.

The plan gives this unknown casino cartel a complete monopoly? Section four of the bill creates a monopoly for current gambling operators and prohibits any competition. This is their idea of "regulating" gambling: set up a monopoly. They'll get mega-rich because this plan makes it illegal for anyone to compete with them.

The plan makes slot machines legal in Alabama for the first time in our state's history? Section four of the bill states that "bingo equipment" cannot be considered a slot machine, even if it is a slot machine.

The plan gives casino operators immunity from Alabama's laws against illegal gambling? It states that not even a Supreme Court judgment can stop them from using these machines. Not only that, section five of the bill specifically allows them to bring slot machines into Alabama from out of state without fear of running afoul of state laws against the transportation, installation, ownership or leasing of slot machines.

To read the rest of this article please go here.  Bob Riley is governor of Alabama. E-mail him through the Web site www.governor.alabama.gov/.