GOP GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE BILL JOHNSON PRAISES COUNTRY CROSSING; QUESTIONS MOTIVES OF THOSE WHO THREATEN ITS LEGAL OPERATION
“I’m concerned that Mississippi Indian casino owners could be influencing Riley
to choke off economic development in the Wiregrass Region.”
Montgomery, AL, Nov. 5, 2009 -- Gubernatorial candidate Bill Johnson today voiced his unequivocal support for the Country Crossing development and called on the governor and others to stop threatening its development. “This development is the epitome of the free market capitalist system in operation. Entrepreneurs are investing hundreds of millions of dollars, creating thousands of jobs and promising an economic revival to an area of the state that has been ignored too long. To those who would block this development I say, ‘Stand aside and let these dreams come true.’ More construction with less obstruction is what we need in Houston County and throughout Alabama.”
Johnson pointed out that “the recent effort by the Governor’s office to threaten machine providers for the development is just the latest effort to circumvent the law and block a legal development that means opportunity for thousands of people in southeast Alabama. Alabama now ranks in the top ten of unemployment. We should be giving people a chance to work and give their families a better future.”
Johnson also spoke of his special knowledge of just why the Governor would be so aggressive to stop legal bingo in Alabama. “I was in the leadership of the Riley for Governor Campaign. I heard directly that the campaign received millions of dollars in contributions from the Mississippi Indian casino owners. I was told how much the campaign was promised by the Mississippi Indian casino owners, how much they gave, what we did when they came up short at the end of the campaign.”
“But what matters today is I’m concerned that those dollars from Mississippi Indian casino owners are manipulating public policy in Alabama and blocking the efforts of good Alabamians like Ronnie Gilley from creating the very kinds of opportunities we need throughout this state. I’m concerned that Mississippi Indian casino owners will attempt to choke off economic development in the Wiregrass Region. It’s time for the Governor to back off and let the people decide on the future of bingo in Alabama. He’s got plenty to do without undermining legal enterprises like Country Crossing.”
“The people of Houston County have spoken with a 62% margin that they want legal bingo in their county. The Governor should not be listening to the Mississippi Indians on matters of public policy in Alabama and should start listening to the hardworking, law-abiding, freedom-loving people of Alabama.”
Johnson finished his remarks by stating he fully supports a statewide referendum that allows the citizens of Alabama to have a voice on electronic bingo in this state, and expanded on those remarks on the front steps of the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery. “This issue impacts more than just the Wiregrass Region for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is beyond the role of the Office of the Governor to threaten shipments of equipment to Alabama businesses. Imagine being a few weeks away from the grand opening of your business when you receive notification stating the Governor’s legal office has called your equipment manufacturers and threatened the shipment of your supplies. Imagine being a farmer in Alabama and receiving a call stating the Governor’s office has threatened shipment of equipment to your farm. Where does it end?
"The entire state is impacted by the Governor’s actions because these machines have been ruled legal in Alabama. The citizens of not only Houston County, but the state have spoken. This is legal in Houston County and other areas of the state. I believe the citizens of Alabama should be given the opportunity to vote on electronic bingo statewide once and for all. Let the people have a voice, The decision about whether we’re going to have electronic bingo in Alabama should come from the people of Alabama—not the Mississippi Indian casino owners,” concluded Johnson.