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THE ISSUE

A filibuster in the Alabama Senate focused on what is essentially a local bill threatens to derail the session, leaving budgets and other important legislation to languish until the closing minutes. So, what's new?

Stop us if you've heard this one before: Two members of the Alabama Senate have shut down action while they carry on a filibuster over a local bill while the clock on the legislative session is ticking down.

Supporters of a Macon County gambling bill that would protect a dog racing track and electronic bingo machines at the track have been filibustering the Senate in an effort to gather enough votes to pass the bill. Senators Myron Penn, D-Union Springs, and Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, are backing a constitutional amendment they say affects only Macon County. It would change how bingo machines are regulated at the race track, require track operator Milton McGregor to pay more to local governments in the county, and protect the machines against adverse court rulings against gambling in other counties. It would also make it more difficult for competing bingo operations to open in Macon County.

All efforts to convince them to drop their filibuster have met with no success. In fact, they have made it clear that unless they get what they want, they are going make their opponent pay a price.

"If you kick my dog, I'm going to kick your cat," Penn told the Associated Press last week. Smitherman was equally blunt - and colorful. "If this plane crashes, there won't be any

survivors."

Penn is upset that the local bill is not being given the usual courtesy of quick passage most local bills receive.

But gambling is a touchy subject in Bible Belt Alabama, even in a county where dog racing and bingo are already established. And a wide array is disparate opponents - from religious groups to Mississippi and Indian casino interests - is not backing away from blocking Penn's bill, in part because it appears to show favor to one person - the influential McGregor.

At this late stage of the session, it should be obvious to Penn and Smitherman that they are not going to get the votes they need to pass the amendment. The bill has become too controversial. They should offer a quickly rewritten version to allay opponents' concerns or allow it to die and come back with it next year.

There are too many worthy and necessary bills awaiting action in the Senate, including one that would eliminate the state's 4 percent sales tax on groceries, not to mention state budgets, which are facing cuts because of a shortfall in tax collections. These bills deserve the Senate's full attention.

Penn and Smitherman should admit defeat and allow the Senate to get back to work.

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