I’m reading the news reports about the gaming operators blocking Governor Bob Riley’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling from carrying out a raid on the new Country Crossing casino in Dothan and I’m reminded once again how easy it is for gaming interests to influence local and state politics – to the detriment of the citizens of Alabama.
The mix of gaming interests and local public officials working together in defiance of the state executive bears a scary resemblance to the opposition faced by former Alabama Attorney General John Patterson’s when he fought to clean up illegal gambling in Phenix City a half century ago, which was recently chronicled in The Birmingham News.
Unlike Alabama’s current Attorney General, Troy King (who has been quick to distance himself from Governor Riley’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling), I’m siding with John Patterson’s view — It’s time to stand up for the rule of law, honesty and integrity.
As I said publicly last month in the Montgomery Advertiser, the highest responsibility of an Alabama Attorney General is to uphold and enforce the law. The failure to do so results in contempt for the law that undermines and even endangers society. That, as we found in Phenix City, is the most dangerous and socially destructive side effect of illegal gambling.
I hope other Republican leaders will join me in publicly denouncing this scourge that is increasing its shadow across Alabama.
Links:
Kay Ivey points out the sad truth – someone always has to lose with gambling — http://ow.ly/Txm5
John Patterson recalls ugly history of gambling violence in Phenix City — http://ow.ly/Txpo
Luther Strange calls on AG King to stop ignoring gambling expansion — http://ow.ly/Txtr