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Maine Gov. moves forward on controversial lottery planNews Story
As Republican lawmakers pressed for more details Monday, the Baldacci administration was fast-tracking its plan to sell off Maine's lottery revenue stream in order to help balance the state's two-year, $5.7 billion budget. Part of the state's efforts involve officials looking for outside help in pricing and structuring the lottery deal.Rebecca Wyke, the governor's chief finance officer, and Dan A. Gwadosky, executive director of the Maine State Lottery, told members of the Appropriations Committ
Mar 1, 2005, 2:39 pm - Lottery News

Penn. officials study slots' effect on lottery revenuesNews Story
Pennsylvania state senators pressed state Revenue Secretary Greg Fajt last week on just one of the many multimillion dollar questions pertaining to the imminent arrival of slot machines.Will the new gaming harm the Pennsylvania Lottery, now flourishing due to the many small-time gamblers who focus their wagering dollars on the numbers and instant games?Fajt's answer on behalf of the pro-slots Rendell administration: We don't think so.But no one knows for certain. The question has not been studie
Feb 21, 2005, 9:30 am - Lottery News

Support eroding for Maine Gov.'s lottery planNews Story
A Democratic state senator from Portland is breaking ranks with Gov. John Baldacci on the governor's plan to help balance the state budget by selling future lottery revenue. But it remains to be seen if that defection is isolated or the first sign that support is crumbling within the governor's party.Sen. Ethan Strimling, one of 19 Democrats in the 35-member Senate, said Wednesday he cannot support borrowing $250 million from an investor and repaying it by selling lottery revenue. Strimling said
Feb 10, 2005, 1:27 pm - Lottery News

Dispute erupts over use of Tennessee lottery fundsNews Story
Tennessee State Sen. Steve Cohen Thursday attacked Gov. Phil Bredesens pre-kindergarten initiative, saying the use of lottery money to fund the program is illegal and unconstitutional.Cohen (D-Memphis), the chief legislative architect of the state lottery, accused the administration of bringing intentionally low lottery projections to the legislature in 2003 numbers that ultimately led to the substantial surplus now available, he said.Bredesen called Cohens remarks astonishing.The lottery was de
Feb 4, 2005, 11:27 am - Lottery News

Maine governor defends lottery capitalization planNews Story
Maine Gov. John Baldacci pointed to several other states that have swapped future revenue streams for up-front cash Monday as he defended his plan to capitalize up to $40 million a year in lottery revenues for $250 million in the upcoming budget.The Democratic governor fended off criticism of his plan to sell a decade s worth of Maine lottery revenues to the Maine State Retirement System or other investor. It would help the state to increase public school subsidies while balancing a $5.7 billion
Jan 11, 2005, 7:43 am - Lottery News

Connecticut Lottery raises, bonuses rankle lawmakersNews Story
Raises of between 3 percent and 6 percent and cash bonuses of 11 percent to several Connecticut lottery officials last summer have prompted a call by some lawmakers to review salaries at Connecticut's quasi-public agencies.The Connecticut Lottery Corp. authorized incentive payments for 17 officials, including two part-timers. The total value of the bonuses is $160,926.Some lawmakers and labor leaders say the raises and bonuses are discouraging to rank-and-file state workers who are being asked
Jan 10, 2005, 1:54 pm - Lottery News

Maine lawmakers suspicious of plan to borrow against lottery fundsNews Story
The G-word, otherwise known as gimmick, was invoked frequently Thursday as lawmakers learned that Gov. John E. Baldacci plans to borrow against a portion of Maine's state lottery revenues to balance a $5.5 billion, two-year budget.Not entirely unlike the governor's decision to lease out the state's retail liquor operations for $125 million two years ago, Baldacci reportedly is planning on exchanging the state's proceeds from online games such as Powerball and Megabucks with a Wall Street broke
Jan 10, 2005, 12:54 pm - Lottery News

Maine to use lottery proceeds instead of raising taxesNews Story
Maine Governor John Baldacci may draw from future lottery proceeds and delay pension costs as part of his approach to financing a new two-year state budget without raising taxes. Baldacci may also seek approval for changing some benefit standards in the state Medicaid program, which is known as MaineCare, to help cover a budget gap of about $740 million.Aides shied away from details and emphasized that the forthcoming budget package was subject to change. But planning for a Friday release to th
Jan 6, 2005, 11:09 am - Lottery News

Educators, Lawmakers Pleased With Oklahoma Lottery VoteNews Story
Supporters Predict Measure Could Generate $150M Annually For EducationOklahoma school officials called State Question 705 a victory for the state's education system Wednesday after voters passed the measure overwhelmingly.The measure, which establishes a state education lottery, was approved by 64 percent of voters who participated in Tuesday's general election.According to language in the measure, at least 35 percent the revenue from the new lottery will go directly toward Oklahoma's education
Nov 4, 2004, 12:53 pm - Lottery News

N.C. Governor changes tactics in push for lotteryNews Story
Easley still wants lottery as a revenue source, but he's gentler about it nowGov. Mike Easley never got the state lottery he pushed for when running for office four years ago. His Republican opponents, some Democratic lawmakers and even some of his biggest supporters in other policy areas have blocked it or spoken against it.But the Democratic governor who's running for re-election still wants one.He teased one gaming opponent, his outgoing state education Superintendent Mike Ward, late last mon
Sep 27, 2004, 7:34 am - Lottery News