European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 03, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Debate Over National lottery California became the 20th stale with a lot potentially at least the nation s largest is richest lottery with Gross Revenue expect in the first year. As in Many other states will go to Public schools. Some members with envy upon the state s Revenue Jackpot National lottery and a subcommittee of i on governmental affairs held a hearing or Robert Pear of the hew York time was asked rep. Thomas a. Luken an Ohio Dot a National lottery and sen. Dave Dure Newi Republican who opposes it to discuss the what the country stands to win Thomas a. Luken California succumbed a lottery fever a month ago offering itt ret Dentt the Chance to win from $2 to $5,000 pita a track at the $2 million grand prize. That Jackpot wot won for the tint time fait monday by Linda Scott a Telephone company worker from Jackson in the Sierra Nevada foothill. Page 14 the stars and stripes a popular Way to raise Money question. Why do you favor a National lottery answer. It would bring in Revenue. It s estimated that it might be As much As $8 billion to $10 billion a year $50 billion Over five years. Those estimates Are very rough and As the history of the lotteries in the states has shown May be on the Short Side. Also i think there is a popular demand for a National lottery at least a popular acceptance. Lotto mania swept Ohio a year ago and recently swept new York. The lottery has brought an unexpected Bonanza of revenues to the states. Q. Why unexpected a. After a slow Start he Ohio lottery has picked up quite a bit in the last couple of years. The Revenue from it is used mostly for education. At the National level lottery Revenue could be used to defray the deficit or perhaps for social Security or some general purpose like thai. I would opt for deficit reduction. Q. How do you respond to two arguments against the lottery that it is a kind of a regressive tax on poor people and that it is immoral because it is gambling a. I Don t think the statistics show it is regressive. The Ohio lottery people Tell me the average buyer of a lottery ticket in Ohio earns about $18,000 a year. That would be somewhere around the median of incomes. As far As the immorality is concerned i think that is puritanical approach people telling others what their life style should be. It is especially hypocritical in this Case because the ones making those judgments Are affluent people who have a lot of choices As to what their recreation and fun will be. The poor Are being told that a lottery is immoral because they re wagering their pittance that might otherwise go for necessities. It s an elitist concept where we who Are More affluent Tell the poor How they should run their lives. The argument is also inconsistent because we permit gambling with racing and other kinds of gambling. And even when gambling is not formally legalized it is permitted in the form of Bingo and other opportunities Lor people to Bingo is a classic example. Many Don t realize How Many people Are involved spending $5 or so weekly or several times a week depending on what they can afford. And of course those who have More option can Gamble at the country club or they can buy a $100 raffle ticket at Church. Those activities Are very popular a-., alter All Lite is a Gamble. People invest in various kind St. Of business activities. The Choice of a career is the to 1 Sun dbl v
