Arkansas Proposed State Lottery

[mike]

Arkansas will take up the issue of a state lottery on the November ballot. If you were a registered voter in the state of Arkansas, would you be in favor of creating a state lottery? Yes or No

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/sto ... 20&catid=2

Next door neighbor Oklahoma does not Arkansas to have a lottery:

http://newsok.com/arkansas-gamble-may-h ... 1221623772

Two views from the opinion page of Arkansas State University's newspaper, The Herald

In favor of letting the voters decide if they want a state lottery:

http://media.www.asuherald.com/media/st ... 2036.shtml

Opposing the lottery:

http://media.www.asuherald.com/media/st ... 2042.shtml

[mike]

The Arkansas Supreme Court, in a 6-0 decision, said that the voters in Arkansas will be allowed to vote on the lottery issue in November after all.

http://www.kait8.com/global/story.asp?s=9189386

Thanks to KAIT for the article.

Mike

[mike]

Interesting article on the financing of the groups in favor of the lottery and those groups opposed to it.

http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/48801

Thanks to The Batesville Daily Guard for the article.

Mike

[mike]

This poll closes today. Let's see how close these numbers are compared to the local numbers when they come in.

Thank you to everyone that participated in this "unscientific" poll.

Mike

[mike]

Results of Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 (Establishing the state lottery)

http://www.arelections.org/index.php?ac ... ontestid=4

Sharp went 62.46% for to 37.54% against. Fulton went 62.43% for to 37.57% against. Our poll was slightly higher, but overwhelming nonetheless as was the real vote for this area.

Mike

[Jep100]

I'm glad this passed. Other states are getting our money. We might as well keep it here. We better watch to make sure the money does go to education.

[wellerisok2341]

Jep,

You are right. Oklahoma is already complaining that they will be losing money now that Arkansas passed the lottery issue. The people from Arkansas who were crossing the border into Oklahoma to buy lottery tickets will now be able to stay in Arkansas to purchase the tickets once it gets up and running. The more money that stays in the state, the better. It's common sense, and Arkansans used a little bit of it on election day on this one.

Paul

[Tazwell]

Anybody buying tickets? I haven't bought a one, but I'm not prone to throwing my money out the window either.

[Friend]

Tazwell,

I sure have no problem with a lottery ticket every now and then. What makes me weep, though, is watching real poor folks scratch off ticket after ticket while the baby needs milk.

You don't have to be a liberal to see that lottery is the most regressive tax there is -- overwhelmingly played by poor folks who don't have the money to waste. If someone wants to throw a buck at it once a week, no biggy. But that's not how it really goes down. I've seen lottery tickets in some States start at a buck or two and then soon scratch-offs show up for up to $20 bucks!!! That's a lot of milk for the baby!!!

[Friend]

WOW!!!! I just saw a $30 scratch off!!! Has anyone seen higher? This lottery stuff starts out small but then.... The States are broke and desperate, that's for sure.

[Tazwell]

Still haven't bought one.

[Friend]

Ever seen the look on a man's face when he scratches off a 30 dollar lottery ticket and doesn't win a think? It's something to behold.