DA’s want bingo issue decided by Legislature, voters

Source: The Gadsden Times

January 27th, 2010 09:25am

by Eric Wright

MONTGOMERY — Gov. Bob Riley promised to help cash-strapped district attorneys who are trying to deal with bingo’s legal issues and he’s following through on the promise, a district attorney said Tuesday.

Although they’re getting financial help, district attorneys facing strained budgets want the expensive legal and political bingo issue that has been dumped on them to be decided by the Legislature and voters.

“It should be in the State House, not the courthouse,” Etowah County District Attorney Jimmie Harp said. “This issue needs to be explored fully, electronic bingo in Alabama.”

Harp said he and other district attorneys are spending resources and employee time on the legality of local bingo constitutional amendments and electronic bingo machines.

Harp said district attorneys’ offices are hurting financially so Riley’s office has been helping. A Riley spokesman said internal funds have been spent, but he couldn’t immediately determine the amount.

“When the task force was formed, Gov. Riley said this is a resource for local law enforcement,” spokesman Todd Stacy said. “Local law enforcement might not have the resources necessary, so part of the task force’s mission is to assist local DAs and local sheriffs with resources of financial and expert witnesses, legal counsel.”

Harp said he hired an expert for between $4,000 and $5,000 to determine whether electronic machines for a planned $200 million bingo casino in Etowah County are legal.

“The sheriff asked me to file a declaratory judgment action whether the machines they are bringing in are legal or illegal gambling devices,” Harp said. “I don’t think they meet the legal test.”