[aimhigh]

When the Lottery was approved .... the bulk of the money would be spent on improving our school system.

This is inaccurate. The money was originally to go towards economic stimulous projects. The teacher's union later pushed for schools to get it - and they want it all.

[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