Georgia lottery bill would protect education funds

Jul 1, 2005, 8:48 am (10 comments)

Georgia Lottery

Ralph Reed, a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, on Thursday endorsed Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue's call for a state constitutional amendment that would prevent lottery money from being used for anything except HOPE college scholarships, pre-kindergarten classes and building up financial reserves.

"Competition to the lottery from surrounding states is increasing, revenues will level off over the long haul, and we need this measure to ensure long-term fiscal solvency," Reed said.

Reed's only rival in the 2006 GOP primary race, state Sen. Casey Cagle of Gainesville, pointed out that, as a political consultant, Reed led the successful effort to kill a 1999 lottery referendum in Alabama that was modeled on Georgia's program.

At the time, Reed was working on behalf of a group of religious conservatives, and as a subcontractor to Jack Abramoff, a Washington lobbyist with casino clients who is now under federal investigation.

"My opponent worked to oppose the very same type of program in Alabama on behalf of casino clients," Cagle said. "We cannot afford to play political games with this highly important, even vital, program. I hope my opponent will be more consistent with his new position than his old one."

Cagle, too, said he supports Perdue's amendment.

Reed denied any inconsistency and said he supports the Georgia lottery. "The lottery in Alabama was a badly flawed program that lacked legislative oversight," he said in an interview. As proposed, Reed said, the Alabama system would have allowed no-bid contracts and was "an invitation to cronyism and corruption."

One of those who campaigned in favor of the Alabama lottery was former Gov. Zell Miller, the father of Georgia's lottery. Miller, a Democrat, endorsed Reed's candidacy last month.

Reed has come under criticism for activities in Alabama. Some of the funding he arranged for the anti-lottery campaign originated with the Mississippi band of Choctaw Indians, a tribe with casino interests. Leaders of the anti-lottery campaign had pledged to accept no gambling money, whether directly or indirectly. Reed has said the money came from the tribe's nongambling enterprises.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Comments

Tnplayer805's avatarTnplayer805

So he's the one who screwed AL out of a lottery?  It would be in GA's best interest to keep him away from their's.  AL's was written exactly like GA's.  GA's lottery is one of the best in the nation too.  This will be interesting.

CASH Only

I Agree!

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

alabama deserves a lottery....

CASH Only

Even Utah deserves a lottery.

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

I Agree!

CASH Only

So do I.

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

maybe they will someday....

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

when do they vote on a lottery in alabama again?

Tnplayer805's avatarTnplayer805

It depends.  Unless they get the ball rolling in the house I don't think it will be 2006.  Maybe 2008???  We'll see.

CASH Only

AL needs a lottery too.

End of comments
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