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Lottery and taxpayer issues Monday, Jul 21, 2008 By David J. Sanders KNOXVILLE ? Vacations are refreshing. The family is on its annual pilgrimage, visiting my wife's father, stepmother and their two labs Cisco and Molly at their abode near the Smoky Mountains. Despite hundreds of miles and numerous rivers separating me from my home, it's virtually impossible, that is with Blackberry and notebook computer handy, to avoid the steady flow of news from Arkansas. In addition to the morning, noon and evening cigars, good books, sun-drenched hours by the pool and short jaunts to touristy areas of particular interest to the kids (ages 9,8,6 and 13 months), my time isn't all play and no work. Besides writing this column, I'm making it a point to chat up locals - conducting field research by way of impromptu anecdotal surveys - in order to understand better how folks around these parts feel about this state's lottery, which voters approved by 58 percent back in 2002. But, as much as I would like to share what I've uncovered in the shadows of Dollywood, the newly renovated Neyland Stadium and in the numerous gift shops at the many Cracker Barrels that line Interstate 40, my work is unfinished and thus reporting on it would be premature. Frankly, the best news on the lottery front emanates not from The Volunteer State, but The Natural State. That said, Wednesday night's "Powerball" numbers were 03-15-23-29-42 Powerball 17, Play 4. Back in Arkansas, Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's near flawless campaign aimed at persuading voters to take a chance on a lottery hit a small, rough patch last week, giving pause to both objective observers and opponents of the measure. The rub concerns members of Halter's taxpayer-funded office staff, who, during normal office hours, made at least four trips around the state, at taxpayers expense, giving speeches to civic groups on behalf of Halter's lottery proposal. Despite the fact that such outright electioneering on the taxpayers dime doesn't quite pass the smell test, especially on behalf of something as controversial as the lottery, state law allows such advocating for the "qualification, disqualification, passage, or defeat" of a ballot question. The only caveat is that expenditures exceeding $500 must be reported. Halter says his staff has received reimbursement for only $400 in travel expenses. But what about their time - aren't these people paid? According to news reports, Halter has said his office doesn't account for time according to issue. He conveniently claimed that his staff works on a number of issues and that accounting on a per-issue basis would be difficult. Lottery opponents counter that Halter's taxpayer-funded staff is acting like a quasi-campaign staff. But, Halter has zero reservations about sending his staff hither and yon pushing for the lottery. He claims they are simply advocating a public policy position. But this is where I, and I suspect others, part company with Halter. The taxpayers have no business picking up the tab for his staff's electioneering on behalf of his pet project. While it may be legal, it certainly doesn't seem right or, for that matter, smart?politically. If his state Capitol office staff really isn't spending much time or money pushing for the lottery, then why would he give his opponents something to attack him with? Halter set up a campaign to push his pet project and it would be in the taxpayers' interest, and Halter's political interest, to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Simply put, Halter should end his staff's electioneering while on the taxpayers' time and have his campaign reimburse the state for his staff's time and travel expenses. Now back to my vacation. ------- David Sanders writes twice weekly for the Arkansas News Bureau in Little Rock and is a host of the Arkansas Education Television Network's "Unconventional Wisdom." His e-mail address is DavidJSanders@aol.com. |
