MONTPELIER, Vt. - Lawmakers have taken the first step to bring a giant jackpot lottery game to Vermont by summer.
The House Ways and Means Committee voted 6-3 on Tuesday to recommend a bill that would direct the state's Lottery Commission to contract for a multi-state game such as Powerball or Megamillion.
Gov. Jim Douglas already signaled his support by including a new lottery game in his budget plan. Lawmakers have decided to move a lottery bill now, rather than wait for the budget, which has months of review ahead. The goal is to get the game up and running by July 1.
Lottery officials have estimated five months of preparations before the first ticket could be sold. The profits would go into the state Education Fund.
The bill faces opposition before it leaves the House.
One critic, Rep. Steve Hingtgen, P-Burlington, tried to persuade the Ways and Means Committee to delay its vote and do more research on the social and economic consequences of lottery games.
"I ask you not to jump for the allure of the money," Hingtgen said. He is worried that Powerball tempts people who can't afford to gamble and sends a "pernicious" message about getting rich without effort.
"Is it the appropriate role of the government to promote gambling rather than regulate it?" Hingtgen asked. "Is government trying to get people to participate more?"
Committee Chairman Richard Marron, R-Stowe, observed that Vermonters already drive to other states to play these games. "What is wrong with doing it here and having the money stay here?" he said.
A new lottery is expected to result in some loss of revenue from the games now offered in Vermont, but the net increase to the Education Fund is projected to be $3.2 million. Current lottery revenues run roughly $16 million a year.
Rep. Joyce Errecart, R-Shelburne, said she wasn't supporting Powerball for the money. She voted for the bill to help store owners along the Connecticut River who watch their customers drive to New Hampshire to buy those tickets. "People are really hurting. We have had such an erosion of business to New Hampshire," she said.
Wednesday, Feb 5, 2003
Taken from www.cmonitor.com
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