Huge Scandal Erupts over Oregon Lottery's Handling of $ 800,000 in Free-Spending Perks

Portland Oregonian ^ | 12/30/2002 | By Janie Har

[blackie]

Abolish the Oregon Lottery, privatize the state run liquor stores, start logging state and federal land, abolish the ESA ... drill for oil and gas in ANWR.

Do it now!

Be Well - Be Armed - Be Safe - Molon Labe!

[Elsie]

Now, legislators are demanding reform of the semipublic agency, which is exempt from some state rules because it doesn't receive taxpayer money.

So, where is the URL that lists the income versus the payout stats?

[Iconoclast2]

The real question, is who are Moore's politico friends? If the Oregonian had any real investigative journalists on its staff, they'd explore that question. Of course, if pigs had wings . . .

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks for the post and the ping!

"But critics -- including state legislators, Gov. John Kitzhaber and outside government watchdogs -- are complaining that much of the $800,000 should have gone to schools and economic development projects."

Include me in those critics. This is the first time Taxhaber and I have been on the same page. Wonders never cease...

Learning creative window treatments and handing out Waterford crystal? Sheesh!

Some heads need to roll!

Happy New Year to you both!

[dixiechick2000]

"Abolish the Oregon Lottery, privatize the state run liquor stores, start logging state and federal land, abolish the ESA ... drill for oil and gas in ANWR."

Bumpity bump bump!

Happy New Year, blackie!

[EBUCK]

Heads will roll but not the right ones...there are already some fall guys getting set up..

Happy 2003 to you too lady.

EBUCK

[dixiechick2000]

"Heads will roll but not the right ones...there are already some fall guys getting set up.."

Par for the course...

[WaterDragon]

You may be right that this is good investigative reporting, but the Portland Oregonian is a Democrat-House-Organ, and would not be reporting this unless the Democrats had an axe to grind here.

[blackie]

Happy New Year to you, too, Dixiechick!

[Clinging Bitterly]

>> Or am I missing something?

Yup. Marketing is probably a bigger part of it. People aren't naturally stupid enough to blow the sums of money they do on this con. I takes advertising to dumb them down. A lot of it.

Dave in Eugene

[Clinging Bitterly]

>> The money was originally to go towards economic stimulous projects.

That's correct. In the early days, lottery money was used to build what I called streets to nowhere. The streets are still there, being swept every week, and they still go nowhere.

>> The teacher's union later pushed for schools to get it - and they want it all.

Yup, and it had to be approved by voters. IIRC, it was approved at the same time the addition of the video poker was approved. I voted for the original measure that authorized the regular scratch off games and the Megabucks lotto. I realized I had made a mistake by the time the vote for the expansion came along. I wish more voters realized that this really does no good for the state. The $330 Million "profit" is money that wouldn't be spent if it wasn't there - it doesn't offset a nickel of other taxes.

Dave in Eugene

[Clinging Bitterly]

>>This is the first time Taxhaber and I have been on the same page.

No kidding. I disagree with him on just about everything, but but he has consitently shown dislike for the lottery in general, and downright hostility towards any expansion of it. Gotta say he's right about that one issue.

Dave in Eugene