API’s Stephanie Smith: Don’t put your hope in an education lottery
Last week, the Alabama House of Representatives voted not to agree to the Senate's changes to HB 151 and HB 152 and established a consultation committee consisting of Reps. Witt, Jones and Blackshear. The Senate has not filed a legislative response to the House's action. There is a huge difference of opinion among legislators on […]
API’s Stephanie Smith: Doing the right thing â Alabama economic prosperity without gambling
Twenty-five years ago, Alabama voters were in the midst of a heated debate about the positive and negative effects of expanding gambling in the state. A constitutional amendment, the centerpiece of Don Siegelman's 1998 gubernatorial campaign, was placed on the ballot in October 1999 to create a state lottery. Mr. Siegelman promised that the lottery […]
API’s Stephanie Smith: Expanding Medicaid ‘discourages work’
The Alabama Policy Institute (API) continues its fight against Medicaid expansion in the Yellowhammer State. API Director Stephanie Smith said Alabama should focus on making its private health care system better for its citizens, rather than encouraging more reliance on the government. Smith recently discussed this issue on WVNN's “Yaffee Program.” “I think there are […]
API’s poll on gambling offers a skewed view on a complex subject
A cursory glance at a recent poll released by the Alabama Policy Institute might lead some to conclude that Republican voters are adamantly opposed to any gambling legislation. But this surface-level interpretation misses the nuances of Alabama voters' sentiments, especially when the topic is as multifaceted as gambling. Over the past decade, statewide surveys have […]
API’s Stephanie Smith concerned legalized gambling could be similar to ‘marijuana mess’
Stephanie Smith, president of the Alabama Policy Institute (API), said gambling will be one of the two biggest issues facing the Alabama Legislature in 2024. He said the Legislature also needs to address the complexities of the state's legal medical marijuana system. She said the creation of a gambling commission would pose unique problems similar […]
