The legislative session is just two days old, but North Carolina lawmakers are already at odds over a state lottery.
State Rep. Bill Owens, D-Pasquotank, proposed a bill Wednesday that would allow individual counties to decide whether they want to participate in one.
If 25 counties would pass the issue, then a state lottery would be established with 25 percent of the money going back to the counties that are selling lottery tickets, Owens said.
Owens said counties would use 25 percent of that money to pay for school construction. The other 75 percent would end up in a statewide fund to pay for education initiatives.
Supporters of a lottery, including Gov. Mike Easley, say most North Carolinians want one. They point out that thousands of state residents are crossing the border every year to play lotteries in South Carolina and Virginia.
But opponents believe that the public opinion polls are flawed, and they worry that the money would end up in places other than education.
Its a bad, bad bill, said Rep. Russell Capps, R-Wake. North Carolina doesnt need to get in the lottery business. Thats terrible public policy.
It is unclear when lawmakers will take up Owens proposal. A committee has to approve it before it goes to the floor. But it is clear that it will provide plenty of debate this year.
Easley has pushed for a lottery before, but lawmakers have turned down the idea. In 2002, the House refused to allow a statewide referendum on the issue.
hey n.carolinians, wake up and smell the coffee. this is 2005. get with the program.... there is nothing wrong with the bible, but you can read the "lottery" bible as well.....!!!
MD, it isn't our fault. I want one and 90 percent of the people in NC want it but the snot nose liberals in office won't allow the bill to get to us to be voted on.
Maddog and Reddog, I've been wanting a lottery in NC forever. I even wrote Mike Easley several years ago to support his efforts. Now that I've discovered , NC can take their good old sorry behind time and stuff it!!! As long as is out there, they don't never have to get a lottery. They are too dumb to see the millions they are losing to Virginia and South Carolina!!!! It makes me boiling mad when I think of it.
gentlespirit, reddog i've got a lot of friends down n.c., since i used to live there. i keep telling my friends to keep writing to their congressman everyday if they have too. the "snot nosed liberals" you're referencing to have dragged the fat arses long enough. the reason being, they can't see past their own noses to see how much money is being diverted to surrounding states. i hope everyone gets on this bandwagon...!
when do these officials terms expire? maybe when there are new blood in the system they can go about doing this.it seems like one or two of the same people are holding this back...
Quote:Originally posted by reddog on January 29, 2005
MD, it isn't our fault. I want one and 90 percent of the people in NC want it but the snot nose liberals in office won't allow the bill to get to us to be voted on.
What appears to be the case here is that it's the liberals who support the bill and the conservatives that's against it.
hey n.carolinians, wake up and smell the coffee. this is 2005. get with the program.... there is nothing wrong with the bible, but you can read the "lottery" bible as well.....!!!
MD, it isn't our fault. I want one and 90 percent of the people in NC want it but the snot nose liberals in office won't allow the bill to get to us to be voted on.
Maddog and Reddog, I've been wanting a lottery in NC forever. I even wrote Mike Easley several years ago to support his efforts. Now that I've discovered , NC can take their good old sorry behind time and stuff it!!! As long as is out there, they don't never have to get a lottery. They are too dumb to see the millions they are losing to Virginia and South Carolina!!!! It makes me boiling mad when I think of it.
gentlespirit, reddog i've got a lot of friends down n.c., since i used to live there. i keep telling my friends to keep writing to their congressman everyday if they have too. the "snot nosed liberals" you're referencing to have dragged the fat arses long enough. the reason being, they can't see past their own noses to see how much money is being diverted to surrounding states. i hope everyone gets on this bandwagon...!
when do these officials terms expire? maybe when there are new blood in the system they can go about doing this.it seems like one or two of the same people are holding this back...
What appears to be the case here is that it's the liberals who support the bill and the conservatives that's against it.