Key individuals and state-level constituencies opposing predatory gambling include:
- Faith & Freedom Coalition, Duluth, GA Faith and Freedom Coalition is committed to educating, equipping, and mobilizing people of faith and like-minded individuals to be effective citizens. Together we will influence public policy and enact legislation that strengthens families, promotes time-honored values, protects the dignity of life and marriage, lowers the tax burden on small business and families, and requires government to tighten its belt and live within its means. Virginia Galloway Regional Field Director Office: 770-622-1501 Mobile: 770-265-2242 Email: virginia@ffcoalition.com
- Concerned Women for America of Georgia Concerned Women for America seeks to change culture by educating our members on Biblical principles and our seven core issues and empowering them to effectively influence all levels of public policy. Tanya Ditty State Director Phone: 770-617-1987 Email: director@georgia.cwfa.org Facebook
- Citizen Impact, USA The purpose of Citizen Impact is to motivate people to be active citizens, to minister to those in public policy fields, and to monitor legislation for moral, religious liberty, and Christian education issues. Paul A. Smith Executive Director Phone: 770-466-8156 E-mail: info@CitizenImpactUSA.org
- Ethics and Public Affairs Ministry of the Georgia Baptist Convention The Ethics & Public Affairs ministry serves as an advocate on behalf of the Georgia Baptist Convention to the Georgia General Assembly and has been active in the fight against gambling expansion in Georgia. Mike Griffin Public Affairs Representative Phone: 770-936-5316 Email: mgriffin@gabaptist.org www.gabaptist.org/publicaffairs
- Family Policy Alliance of GA https://familypolicyalliance.com/georgia/
- GA Conservatives in Action
Recent history of predatory gambling in Georgia:
Georgia has 2 casino bills and enabling legislation in play. They were introduced for 2017 Session, and, in spite of several scheduled hearings and meetings, none was passed from the respective committees. The bills are HB 158, SB 79, SR 249 . Because they weren’t voted Yea or Nay, all will be alive for the 2018 Session.
Horse racing – discussed at committee hearings, no bill active at this time
HB 118, legalizing and regulating Daily Fantasy Sports, passed the House, but was tabled in the Senate. Likely to be brought up for a Senate vote in 2018.
GA Lottery has been in place for almost 25 years and is extremely popular, although it has rarely produced the revenue promised and has contributed to the spiraling inflation of college costs. 80+% of GA Hope Scholarship recipients lose it after their first year. The inability of the Lottery to fund the Hope Scholarship is the reasoning behind the push for casinos.
Testimony before the House and Senate Study Committees on the Preservation of the HOPE Scholarship Program – November 2, 2015 in Savannah, GA:
- Preservation of HOPE Scholarship study committee testimony- Prof. John Kindt, Univ. of Illinois
- Preservation of HOPE Scholarship study committee testimony – Tanya Ditty
- Preservation of HOPE Scholarship study committee testimony – Virginia Galloway
- Preservation of HOPE Scholarship study committee testimony – Mike Griffin
