Alabama governor seeks lottery vote

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley on Wednesday called for a special session seeking a referendum to create a lottery, one of the state's most hotly contested issues.

Bentley said his proposal would raised $225 million annually for the cash-strapped state.

Critics quickly spoke up about the idea.

“There’s the morality aspect of it, but one of my biggest arguments is that it’s a failed government policy,” said Joe Godfrey, executive director of the Alabama Citizens Action Program, a church-supported group that opposes gambling. “It doesn’t work.”

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