Gaming briefs for August 28, 2003

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003 | 11:09 a.m.

Lottery to fund bioengineering research

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina's three research universities will collaborate on a project to produce human tissue and organs with the help of $6 million in state lottery funds.

On Monday the University of South Carolina, Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina were told by a special state committee the schools could begin raising private dollars to match the state funds required by law.

The project is part of the state's endowed chair program, created by the Legislature in 2002, which uses $30 million annually to help the schools recruit leading scientists. The research they produce is expected to jump-start the state's economy by drawing high-tech businesses.

The lottery money would be put in an endowment and invested. The money would be divided evenly among the three schools to hire top researchers who could bring millions of dollars in federal research grants to work together in the growing field of bioengineering.

Governor defends lottery position

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A spokesman for Gov. Brad Henry said Tuesday it is inaccurate for a Republican lawmaker to contend that the governor is delaying a vote on the state lottery.

Paul Sund said Henry was forced to schedule one lottery bill for next year's general election when a companion measure earmarking lottery proceeds to education did not get enough legislative support to allow a special election this year.

The governor would risk breaking faith with voters if he did not set both issues on the same ballot, Sund said.

He said Henry wanted a special election in September, but his plans were spoiled when Senate Joint Resolution 22, a constitutional amendment, did not get a two-thirds vote in the House on a special election provision.

That required that the so-called "lock box for education" measure be sent to the November, 2004, ballot, he said.

"Gov. Henry had promised voters that he was offering them a package deal," that lottery proceeds would go to education and not be used to supplant regular school funding, Sund said.

On Monday Rep. John Wright, R-Owasso, said Henry was the blame for lottery vote not being held until 2004. He pointed to an attorney general's opinion that reinforced the governor's ability to call a special election on the referendum creating the lottery.

"There is absolutely nothing that is keeping the vote on the lottery from happening -- it was Gov. Henry's decision," Wright said. "There's only one person delaying funds from going to education, and that's Gov. Henry."