Lottery virtues debated

Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2002 | 11:04 a.m.

LITTLE ROCK -- The former head of the Little Rock School Board stood onstage at a Baptist church Tuesday and urged development of a state lottery, with proceeds flowing only to education.

The pastor of the church, also seated on the stage, said later he would not support the idea.

"I'm totally opposed to it for any purpose," said the Rev. Rex Horne of the Immanuel Baptist Church.

Skip Rutherford, also head of Bill Clinton's presidential library foundation, told teachers and civic leaders at the annual back-to-school gathering at the church that state budget cuts have hurt public libraries and efforts to enhance the quality of education in the state.

"The state may finally have to come up with some major new funding," Rutherford said.

In the last fiscal year, the state cut $227 million from its annual budget, eliminating some funds for public libraries and most of the promised $3,000 teacher pay raises.

A lawsuit challenging the state's method of financing public schools could result in a demand for hundreds of millions of additional dollars for schools when the Legislature meets in January.