Ben Barnes Wins, Then Loses, the Lottery

by: Texas Nate

Sun Mar 25, 2007 at 03:41 PM CDT

I also wanted to correct some egregious errors in my previous post about Barnes and his real estate doings. I got two bridges confused. I blamed Governor Barnes for the 360 bridge which he had nothing to do with.

In fact, the bridge that Governor Barnes built is ugly but was deliberately designed to have a minimal environmental impact and involved no blasting.

My take on Governor Barnes' involvement with the creation of the Texas Lottery is below the fold.

Can Texans Cure Cancer?

by: Todd Hill

Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 09:01 AM CST

A new organization, founded by Cathy Bonner, a friend to former Governor Ann Richards, has launched a campaign calling for $3 billion in appropriated bonds for cancer research. 

Bonner adds:

"Our goal is to kill cancer in our lifetime making Texas the global leader in cancer cures during the next decade."

Perry, no stranger during this term in attempting to combat cancer, has jumped on board with this effort; however, he is proposing to use proceeds from privatizing the Texas Lottery system in order to pay for the initiative. 

I think selling bonds, if Texas voters approve, to fund research grants in order to combat cancer is a great idea.  I've always believed we need a 21st century version of John Kennedy's call to put a man on the moon.  Americans need a challenge and I believe cancer is a debilitating and costly disease that can be combated.  The idea of Texas leading the way is even better.  I don't believe Perry leading the charge does the effort justice.

Having said that, Governor Perry need not kill the effort by attempting to revive his terrible plan to privatize the Texas Lottery system.  It's a bad idea that would rob Texas of value long-term revenue.

Check out www.killcancer.org and learn more about Bonner's honorable effort. 

Selling The Texas Lottery

by: John McClelland

Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 07:00 AM CST

Voters approved the state lottery in 1992 but profits have been shaky. Projected sales have not lived up to expectations, however according to the Texas Lottery website, the lottery has generated $13 billion since then. Since 1997, all of the revenue ($8 billion worth) has been allocated to public education. It is unknown why Perry would want to sell off a money making device that was approved by a majority of the voters in the state. Also the reason that state lotteries were formed in the first place, is because private lotteries were wrecked with corruption.

However, some citizens think the Texas Lottery is just as corrupt. I spoke with Dawn Nettles, the editor of the Texas Lotto Report, based in Garland TX. Dawn has been keeping track of the Texas Lottery Commission for years, and has proven vast discrepencies in its payouts and its stated jackpots. She stated the following when I asked her thoughts on Perry's new plan:

...My thought is that because the lotteries have been caught deceiving the public; cheating Lotto Winners; offering unfair games of chance to consumers; winners coming forward with horror stories about winning; the tax situation when someone wins... I think the reason states want to sell is because of the loss of revenue they've been encountering and will continue to encounter under current management practices.

So there may be some merit to what Perry is trying to do here. However, the real problem seems to lie within the Texas Lottery Commission itself and its shortcomings. The mismanagement may be leading to the lack of profits that were expected.

While states like Iowa and Illinois are ready to auction off their lottos to the highest bidder due to low revenues, Texas may not want to give up on it just yet. Privatizing the lottery would offer up some quick cash in the sum of billions of dollars.

But once the money is gone, what do we do then? Where will we get the $1 billion that goes to currently help fund education? If the Texas Lottery Commission makes the necessary changes to its games, as well as how it does business, the profits that have been lost over the years may very well come back.