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AUSTIN
– In two “very strong votes,” the Texas House of Representatives killed
an attempt to expand lottery sales to the Internet, said Suzii
Paynter, director of public policy for the Christian Life Commission of
the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
A May 5 procedural vote was won by lottery opponents by a 96-48 tally.
It was followed by an 89-52 vote that actually stripped the proposal from
HB3540, a revenue “clean up” bill, Paynter said.
“They were very strong votes,” she said. Only 76 votes were
required.
“This vote is indicative of the fact that gambling is no longer a quiet
issue,” Paynter said. Gambling has become “visible as an issue that voters
care about,” and representatives are being held accountable for their
votes on the issue.
Bi-partisan opposition killed the Internet lottery proposal, she said.
On the procedural vote, 69 percent of Republicans and 57 percent of
Democrats went against the lottery. On the final vote, 62 percent of
Republicans and 56 percent of Democrats killed the effort.
“Both Democrats and Republicans showed leadership against gambling
expansion,” Paynter said.
Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) authored the amendment backing
Internet lottery sales, and Rep. Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) made the
motion to kill it, which eventually won.
“There was over an hour of discussion on these amendments, and many
legislators were very concerned about the fact that many poor and
disadvantaged Texans might be unfairly affected by the regressive
demographics of lottery play,” Paynter said.
Revenue estimates of more than $200 million also were questioned, she
said.
The House eventually added a lottery amendment to the bill, but it was
not to expand gambling. The amendment instructs the Texas Lottery
Commission to study the “return on investment for advertising
dollars.”
The lottery commission has a $31 million annual advertising budget,
Paynter said.
The bill now goes to the Senate where more attempts at adding gambling
may be made, Paynter said. “There are strong gambling proponents in the
Senate. It wouldn’t be a surprise for them to try to add gambling
amendments to educations bills and finance bills.”
In the Senate, on the important school finance bill (HB 3), Sen. Mario
Gallegos (D-Galena Park) introduced a video lottery terminal amendment,
Paynter said. Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville) called a point of order on
the amendment arguing it had not been discussed in the Senate Finance
Committee, which is required on tax bills. The point of order was
sustained.
Gallegos attempted to resurrect his amendment on third reading, where
the point of order would not apply, Paynter said. The amendment failed
15-16.
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