by Hunter Dawkins
As has been confirmed by state officials, Senate Bill 2001, aka the STATE LOTTERY, that was authored by Senator Phillip Moran (Pass Christian, Kiln, Bay St. Louis) has died after seven amendments were added to the legislation from the House of Representatives.
“It was a bad bill and the senate removed all of the language that would have directed some of the proceeds to education,” said Representative David Baria (Kiln, Bay St. Louis). “We tried to return it to Conference so that it could be improved, but the motion failed.”
Representative Richard Bennett (Long Beach, Pass Christian) was a member of the conference committee from the House side, set by Speaker Philip Gunn. This bill was in the proclamation that Governor Phil Bryant requested on his agenda to fund highways and transportation.
The final vote that defeated the Senate bill on conference report was 60 against (including Baria, Pass Christian Alum Sonya Williams-Barnes, and Speaker Gunn) while 54 voted in favor (Bennett, Carolyn Crawford of Pass Christian, Timmy Ladner of Dedeaux, and Patricia Willis of Diamondhead).
More details will be provided in the next edition of The Gazebo Gazette.
