House Speaker Gaye Symington says Governor Jim Douglas’s
plan to lease the state lottery is dead. Symington says she opposes the plan because she
feels it’s a mistake for the state to rely more heavily on gambling revenue.
The Vermont Senate has sent a clear message to the Douglas
Administration: any plan to lease the state lottery to a private company must
be approved by the Legislature. Supporters of the bill say it’s also evident that most
lawmakers oppose the leasing approach.
Some lawmakers are hoping that
the Legislature will take a serious look at Governor Douglas’s plan to lease
the state lottery. They say it would
provide new money to help balance the state budget.
But opponents argue that relying on more gambling
revenue is a bad idea.
Governor Jim Douglas proposed to the
Legislature that the state lease its lottery to a private company. The plan could potentially
generate $50 million in revenue, but critics have raised a philosophical objection. We hear the pros and cons adn take your calls. Also, news analysis with VPR’s Ross Sneyd, and we listen back to
some of the voices in the week’s news.
Lawmakers are asking tough questions about plans to lease the state lottery.
They
say the plan is risky, and that the image of the state may suffer if it allows
a private company to ramp up legalized gambling.
Legislative leaders are opposed to plans to lease the state lottery. They say
it’s wrong to fund government by expanding legalized gambling.
But
Governor Jim Douglas said the deal will raise at least $50 million. He urged lawmakers
to carefully consider the proposal.
Democratic legislative leaders are concerned about the
Douglas Administration’s plan to lease the Vermont Lottery to a private
business for 30 years.
The Governor says the proposal is a way to provide
at least $25 million for immediate property tax relief. But the lawmakers
question the social cost of relying more heavily on gambling revenue.
The Douglas Administration is considering a plan to lease
the Vermont Lottery to a private company in order to finance a one time
property tax relief plan.
Administration Secretary Mike Smith says the proposal
would provide an additional $25 million to lower the statewide property
tax for education in 2008.