Riley: Read bill before you pass it

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WALA) - MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WALA) - The so-called "Sweet Home Alabama" gambling bill being considered by the Legislature legalizes slot machines in Alabama for the first time, allows for casinos to be built in every county and provides casino operators with criminal immunity. That means they could not be prosecuted for breaking Alabama's gambling laws.

Governor Bob Riley outlined those provisions of the proposed constitutional amendment, and many others, in a letter to members of legislative committees that are considering the gambling bill today.

In the six-page letter, Governor Riley highlights key sections of the bill that are objectionable.

"First, claims that this bill is necessary to 'resolve the bingo debate' are bogus. That debate is over. The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled - several times - that the State Constitution's 'bingo' amendments narrowly authorize only the traditional game of bingo. Adhering to conservative judicial principles, our Supreme Court has rejected the kind of liberal judicial activism it would take to find some hidden meaning in the word 'bingo' that would legalize Las Vegas-style slot machine gambling in Alabama by judicial decree."

Governor Riley is urging legislators to read the 42-page bill before voting on it.

"Study it, discuss it in detail with your constituents and please make sure you understand the long-term consequences of what this bill would do before you make a decision whether to support it. At the end of the day, whether you are for or against gambling, I hope you will agree with me that there is nothing in this proposed amendment that is good for Alabama," said Governor Riley.

The Governor said he will also post the proposed constitutional amendment on his website .

"I hope the citizens of Alabama will read this proposal for themselves and recognize the real danger it poses to our quality of life and to our economy," said Governor Riley.