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N.C. Democrats tried to sneak lottery in 'the back door'News Story
North Carolina Senate Democrats saw an opening early Wednesday they say would have allowed them to pass a lottery bill and give Gov. Mike Easley a big political victory.But they didn't walk all the way through.Here's what happened: Senate Democrats contended that Sen. Hamilton Horton, R-Forsyth, did not properly request a leave of absence to miss the session Wednesday.The leave is necessary to allow an absent member to pair up with a colleague who is present and would vote differently on a bill.
Aug 24, 2005, 10:32 am - Lottery News

N.C. lottery still 1 vote shy of passingNews Story
Raleigh political watchers are trying to figure out whether North Carolina legislators will get a final chance for the year to pass a state lottery.The Senate's biggest lottery advocate says he's trying to figure out the same thing. I don't know where any of this is, said Senate Democratic Leader Tony Rand, D-Cumberland, of the potential for a Senate lottery vote. Rand is in charge of finding more yes lottery votes.Senate leaders say they're one vote short and there are no signs they've convi
Aug 23, 2005, 5:24 pm - Lottery News

N.C. lottery bill weakeningNews Story
After two decades of losing, it finally looked like supporters of a lottery in North Carolina had themselves a winner. But the lottery now looks like a sure thing that started strong and faded down the stretch.A vote shy in the state Senate, supporters are coming up short against a coalition that has yet to back down. And so unless leaders can shake loose one more yes vote, North Carolina appears all but certain to remain the only state on the East Coast without a lottery for another year. I d
Aug 20, 2005, 1:09 am - Lottery News

While N.C. lottery bill sits, backers and critics waitNews Story
Last week, Matt Jameson fumed after reading about the North Carolina General Assembly balking at passing a state lottery. One vote short? What kind of nonsense is that? They could pass a lottery if they want to; this is nothing but politics, he said.This week Jameson has resolve to vote against any lawmaker who fails to support a lottery. Jameson plays the lottery in Virginia periodically and said he'd rather spend his money in North Carolina than out-of-state. It's ridiculous. Every poll I've
Aug 17, 2005, 9:21 pm - Lottery News

Redundant Mega Millions lottery bill passes Calif. Senate CommitteeNews Story
A Senate committee, on a bipartisan vote, approved a measure Tuesday to legalize California's participation in Mega Millions lotto without the testimony of lottery officials who maintain the multi-state game is already legal. They had the audacity not to show up, said Sen. Dean Florez, a Bakersfield-area Democrat who authored the bill.A group that opposes gambling expansion has filed a lawsuit that alleges Mega Millions participation violates the voter-approved constitutional amendment that t
Aug 17, 2005, 7:09 pm - Lottery News

N.C. lottery's fate could come down to one key voteNews Story
The proposal for a North Carolina lottery which seemed headed for passage a month ago is in jeopardy.Senate leader Marc Basnight said Tuesday that supporters did not yet have enough votes to pass the lottery in the Senate and that it was unclear whether they could get those votes before the legislature adjourns for the year. It's a flip of the coin, Basnight said in an interview.Although the Democratic leadership supports a lottery, five Democratic senators are staked out in opposition. Tha
Aug 12, 2005, 10:30 am - Lottery News

N.C. lottery vote today or SaturdayNews Story
Decision will be today or Saturday as backers seek to sway 'no' votersIt apparently takes some cajoling to change one vote.Backers of a North Carolina lottery spent Thursday trying to get a few senators to change their no votes to yes. Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, a Dare Democrat and lottery supporter, said he will hold a vote today or Saturday and that his side is a couple votes short. He, other Senate leaders and staffers from Gov. Mike Easley's office could be seen chatting up
Aug 12, 2005, 10:14 am - Lottery News

N.C. lottery bill limits commercialsNews Story
North Carolina lawmakers are slapping limits on how much a proposed lottery can spend on advertising and what the commercials can say, but they may have underestimated both.The General Assembly is scheduled to vote this week on a state budget that includes a lottery. The lottery would be limited to spending 1 percent of its revenue on advertising. That figure, while in line with many lotteries, may not be enough for a lottery's first year. When we started out, we spent 3.1 percent, said Virgini
Aug 9, 2005, 12:35 pm - Lottery News

Even with revenue deal, start of N.C. lottery no sure betNews Story
House and Senate Democrats have agreed how to distribute lottery proceeds, but it's hardly a sure bet that North Carolina will become the last state on the East Coast to run a numbers game this year.The agreement, details of which were released late Monday with the final proposed $17.2 billion state budget for the coming year, includes a looser advertising policy than one approved by the House in April.Even if both chambers approve the budget later this week, the lottery language won't enact the
Aug 9, 2005, 8:37 am - Lottery News

North Carolina Lottery is a GoNews Story
Residents of the Tar Heel state will finally get a lottery, under terms worked out by the state's House and Senate Friday.The final budget plan allows North Carolina to start a lottery, advertise it, and spend the profits on teachers, school buildings, and scholarships for the needy.The compromise between House and Senate plans for a lottery virtually ensures that North Carolina will start a state numbers game during the next year. The lottery was the last disputed issue between the House and Se
Aug 6, 2005, 10:45 am - Lottery News