Lottery proposal dies

Tuesday, March 2, 2004 | 11:10 a.m.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- A proposal that would allow Wyoming residents to play the lottery without going out of state officially died Monday, but its sponsor is not giving up.

"The bill will be back next year if I am elected," Rep. Dave Edwards, R-Douglas, said.

House Bill 20, which had seven Republican and four Democratic co-sponsors, was killed by Sen. Delaine Roberts, R-Etna, chairman of the Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee.

Roberts did not schedule HB20 for debate before Monday's noon deadline for reporting bills out of committee. He said the committee did not receive the measure in time to give supporters and opponents around the state proper notice of a hearing.

The House passed the state lottery bill last Tuesday 32-24. "I am very disappointed to lose a bill not on the merits of the bill but on the manipulation of the process," Edwards said. "That bill had plenty of support throughout the state with the exception of one religious bloc."

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