Second-term Republican governor Bryant said that the plan would include a proposal for legalizing a lottery. Bryant said, “I am confident that we will have it in our call.” Although he acknowledged that Speaker Philip Gunn (R-Clinton) is against the lottery, he said he believed the speaker would allow the entire House to vote on it. Bryant stated in May that he expects a plan to divert tax revenue collected by online retailers from education, healthcare, and other programs to transportation. This plan would also redirect money from betting on sporting events towards transportation. Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions have allowed states the ability to demand that online retailers collect a tax from the states for items purchased online. This has also allowed states to allow sports betting to be legalized. Already, the state Gaming Commission has approved regulations that will allow Mississippi casinos bet on sporting events. To obtain the $200 million additional per year in infrastructure funding that the governor stated will be the goal for the special session, he said that a lottery was necessary. Lt. Governor. Tate Reeves stated, “I have spoken to Speaker Gunn. Bryant has spoken to Tate Reeves many times in recent months about the potential revenue sources, especially those that are created by U.S. Supreme Court cases, that could be used for road and bridge projects. Bryant stated that the proposal did not include an increase to the 18.4-cent per gallon gasoline taxes. We will need to carefully balance these real infrastructure needs with local elected officials’ concerns. Both the governor and the legislature have been trying to figure out how to address what is most commonly agreed to be a declining infrastructure system at both the local and state levels. Federal officials forced the closing of nearly 500 county bridges this week. Officials have also estimated that an additional $400 million annually is required to address state transportation problems. The political leadership has not shown any willingness to raise the motor fuel tax which is the main source of funding for infrastructure. The proposal that is being considered in the special session would see funds previously earmarked to education and other state services diverted to transportation. According to the University Research Center, the lottery could generate $90 million in annual revenue for the state. He also stated that he expected the special session will include a plan for disbursement of settlement funds from the 2010 BP oil rig explosion and Gulf of Mexico oil leakage. The issue of whether the funds should be used on projects only on the Gulf Coast, or across the state, is up for debate. Meg Annison, the spokesperson for the speaker, stated that the speaker and House members had been working together to solve these ongoing problems.