Gov. Bob Riley has struck the pennies in the street with gaming commissions and slot machine makers: No gambling in Alabama.

One would think that a lameduck governor would wear out his final year by acting constructively, instead of throwing up roadblocks.

For our money, the two Democratic candidates in the 2010 gubernatorial race have come up with better ideas.

Ron Sparks has advocated casinos as a way to breath life into the state. He has pointed to poor areas, such as Dallas County and Selma, and talked about attempting to bring casinos in. Sparks advocates tight control through a gaming commission that would have strong backing from the governor’s office.

Similarly, U.S. Rep. Artur Davis’s spokesman Alex Goepfert told us Saturday night that his candidate supports taxing and regulating existing gaming in Alabama. Well, why not? In these days as we move out of the recession, it only makes sense.

Davis also supports local option, allowing communities to decide on gaming for themselves. This also makes sense.

Gaming is basically a local question. That’s how it should be approached.

Riley is out of line with these demands to commissions and those who would place slot machines in the state.