Sparks made the blockbuster announcement in a news conference in Montgomery on Thursday. His plan also calls for taxing and regulating all gambling operations across the state, as well as college and technical school scholarships for every child in Alabama.

In the announcement at his Montgomery headquarters, Sparks said too many Alabama high school graduates do not attend college or trade schools simply because they can’t afford it.

“Higher education is just a dream that costs too much,” Sparks said.
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According to the Newhouse press coverage of the event, “A decade ago Alabamians rejected a statewide push for a lottery to fund college scholarships championed by then-Gov. Don Siegelman.” What they don’t tell you is how and why the lottery was defeated with gambling money from other states funneled through lobbying groups to religious-political organizations such as the so-called Christian Coalition, then led by now disgraced former leader Ralph Reed. They also don’t mention their own role in defeating the lottery with editorials against it in the state’s three largest newspapers in Birmingham, Mobile and Huntsville.

“Gambling is already a big business in Alabama,” Sparks said. “For too long Alabama politicians have pretended gambling didn’t exist. For too long state leaders have refused to face reality and deal responsibly with one of the fastest growing businesses in our state.”

Sparks said he had not decided how much he would tax casinos and charity bingo operations, according to the News. But he did call for regulating those operations.

Sparks said he would support allowing each of the state’s 67 counties to decide for themselves through a vote if they wanted gambling, but he would not support a statewide referendum on the issue.

Sparks pledged never to raise taxes on Alabamians and to do away with the state sales tax on groceries, “an effort that has repeatedly failed in the Legislature,” according to the News.

Of course Sparks will face U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, in the Democratic primary in June, 2010 — if he is still in the race by then and Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. doesn’t change his mind and toss his hat into the ring after all.

Meanwhile, the bad press for Davis continues in The Politico out of Washington, D.C. today.

Davis Hits Party Wall in Alabama

Full Text Press Release

Today, Alabama Agriculture Commissioner and 2010 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ron Sparks announced a comprehensive and sweeping platform of change for Alabama. Sparks stressed the importance of practical and sustainable investments in education, tax fairness for hardworking middle class families and small businesses, and the regulation and taxing of casino style gaming in Alabama.

Highlighting Sparks’ education platform is The LifeStart Scholarship Lottery program; a concerted effort to provide substantive investments in post-secondary educational opportunities, while generating the financial resources to aid a statewide educational system in dire need of financial aid.

“Education changes lives,” Sparks said. “The single most effective way to change the future of Alabama is to guarantee an education for our young people through improved access to post-secondary education.”

For many young and energetic students, access to public higher education exists as merely a dream; a dream that costs too much. Since 2001, the average cost of tuition for Alabama colleges/universities has increased by nearly 35%, which is more than twice the rate of the growth of the average family income. In many cases, the ever growing costs of educational opportunities in Alabama makes it unaffordable for thousands of Alabamians.

“It is tragic that so many talented young people drop out of school. It is equally tragic that the dream of a better future is just too expensive for so many. That’s why, as Governor, I’ll fight to create the LifeStart Scholarship Lottery program,” said Sparks.

Expanding on the successes of similar initiatives in Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina, the program would provide every graduating high school student in the state, with a “C” or better grade average, a guaranteed scholarship to a public Alabama University, two year college, or technical program of their choice. LifeStart scholarships would also provide funding for apprenticeship programs in both union and non-union craft training facilities.

Sparks touted his firm commitment to the regulation and taxation of casino style gaming statewide. “We will tax gambling and use the proceeds to support Medicaid, the Special Education Trust Fund, and to create a special relief fund for agriculture.”

Recent studies reveal that gambling has already become big business in Alabama. Today, Alabama citizens spend nearly 1.2 billion dollars a year on some form of gambling. On top of these in-state facilities, about 10% of the all the money spent in Mississippi Casinos comes from Alabama citizens – that’s more than 80 million dollars a year. In total, Alabama citizens contribute nearly 423 million dollars a year to the lottery systems of Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Sparks expressed his disapproval of Alabama politicians’ handling of gambling interests throughout the state. “Our state is sending hundreds of millions of dollars to other states and allowing in-state gaming to get by without paying their fair share. It’s time to start collecting taxes from gambling operations and to use that money to support vital state services and programs,” said Sparks.

Amidst national talks of a recession and budget shortfalls, Sparks remained optimistic, pledging to never support legislation that raises taxes on working families and small businesses. He pledged to roll back the property tax increases imposed on Alabama taxpayers, while also putting a stop to the practice of annual property tax appraisals.

“With the revenues we gain from finally taxing casino gambling in Alabama, we can eliminate any need for new taxes, freeze existing taxes, and still meet our obligations to education and general fund programs,” said Sparks.

With state unemployment and poverty rates ranking among the worst in the country, Sparks stressed the importance of removing senseless tax codes, like the state grocery tax, that place further burdens on Alabama families. “ Alabama is one of only four states without some kind of tax break on groceries,” Sparks said. “Doing away with this tax will save thousands of dollars a year for hardworking Alabama families.”

Sparks’ announcements today are the first of a series of platform announcements expected in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit the website at Sparks2010.com