Lawmakers consider lottery

Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A year after the House voted it down, legislators remain divided on whether North Carolina should join neighboring states by putting a lottery in place.

In a survey by the Associated Press, legislators who supported a lottery referendum outnumbered those opposed to one, but just barely.

Among House members who responded, 45 percent said they favored a referendum on a lottery, 36 percent were opposed and 19 percent were undecided. New senators who responded were just as divided, with 48 percent in favor, 36 percent opposed and 16 percent undecided.

Responses to the survey, mailed after the Nov. 5 elections, were received from 47 of 120 incoming House members (39 percent) and 25 of 50 incoming senators (50 percent).

Rep. Leo Daughtry, the former minority leader who is vying for the House speakership, said he believes there could be less support for a lottery now than there was a year ago.

"It was soundly defeated. We have more Republicans," Daughtry said. "And a lot of your big lottery supporters were defeated. I think there is no more support and maybe a little bit less."

Gov. Mike Easley has been a staunch lottery supporter, and most lawmakers expect another push for the game in the coming year, especially as it's expected to feature another tight budget.

Easley argues that North Carolinians are already playing the lottery, just not here, and the money they spend could go to help North Carolina's schools instead of filling the coffers of neighboring states.