Update: Governor Pushes Lawmakers to Pass Lottery Bill

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has urged lawmakers to keep working on lottery legislation even though they missed a deadline to get the measure before voters in November.

Bentley said Tuesday that the bill was not dead. He urged lawmakers to pass the legislation and let voters decide if they want to establish a state lottery.

Procedural issues blocked a House committee from voting on the lottery bill Tuesday. That dashed hopes of getting the measure approved in time for it to go on the Nov. 8 ballot. Bentley said a special election could be called.

Bentley is seeking the first statewide vote on a lottery since Alabamians voted down a lottery in 1999.

The governor called lawmakers into special session to consider a lottery bill and other means to boost funding for the state’s Medicaid program.

Bentley said he wanted legislators to think of the 1 million poor and disabled people in the state who depend on Medicaid for health care.

The House tourism committee will meet Wednesday on the bill.