The Pilot Newspaper - Opinion Page    Updated: Mar 2, 2005  Online Phonebook | Sandhills Shopper | Sandhills Real Estate | Business
News | National News | Local Weather          Mid-Carolina Physician Org. Sandhills Guide  Send this page to a friend -- Email the Opinion Editor  SCOTT MOONEYHAM: It’s Lottery Time Again in Raleigh Raleigh If Gov. Mike
Easley is going to get his lottery, 2005 may well be do-or-die time. For
four years, Easley has been talking up a lottery. For four years,
legislators have been unwilling to go down that road. But Easley enters
2005 having just received an overwhelming endorsement from voters for a
second term. His second tour of duty begins with North Carolina completely
surrounded by lottery states, Tennessee and South Carolina adding the game
since 2001. And he and the General Assembly once again have a strong
motive to approve a lottery or put the issue before voters —- another
tight year for state finances. Turnover in the legislature, particularly
the House, also gives lottery supporters hope. But if the stars are
aligning for a lottery in North Carolina, and it’s not at all clear that
is the case, 2005 could be the year that we see the worst of all worlds
when it comes to lottery plans. Already, proposals are being floated to
put lottery proceeds into school construction. And the ongoing budget
pressure means some will view lottery proceeds as a quick fix for gaps in
tax revenue. School construction may not sound like a bad place to put the
state’s take from a lottery. Obviously, strained county governments, which
bear most of the responsibility for building new schools, are likely to
welcome these kinds of plans. But this kind of proposal sets the stage for
the shell games seen in other lottery states, where proceeds supposedly
dedicated for new education programs instead are eventually used to
replace existing taxes for existing programs. In the past, Easley has
proposed taking the portion of state corporate taxes dedicated to school
construction to help balance the budget. It shouldn’t come as a surprise
to see a similar proposal accompany any new lottery plans. That’s not the
kind of lottery that Easley first ran on in 2000 or has talked about
since. He’s always discussed lottery money going to pay for new programs
to make schools better, not simply throwing new money after the same old,
same old. Over the past four years, Easley has gotten some of what he
wanted in the way of new school initiatives without any lottery money.
Legislators have agreed to fund class-size reductions and preschool for
poor 4-year olds. Still, the estimated $400 million a year that a lottery
would generate isn’t easily ignored. A pitch to legislators will be
forthcoming. So far, though, this governor hasn’t proven that he can close
the deal on something as controversial as state-sponsored gambling.
Lawmakers from conservative, rural parts of the state, both Republicans
and Democrats, will again be wary. In 2002, when Easley lost a lottery
vote in the House, he wasn’t willing to do the horse-trading and
one-on-one lobbying needed to gain the necessary votes. The time may be
more ripe, but there are no guarantees that 2005 will be any different
with the same kind of salesmanship.  Scott Mooneyham writes for Capitol Press Association. © 2000, 2001 The
Pilot Newspaper All stories, images and contents of this web site are the
property of The Pilot Newspaper and cannot be reproduced without express
written permission from the publisher. Questions/Comments/Broken Links
Contact webmaster@thepilot.com