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* With a hat tip to an alert commenter, you had to figure this would happen sooner or later…
A pair of lottery winners have filed a federal lawsuit against the Illinois Lottery, which still is selling tickets despite its inability to pay prizes greater than $25,000 until state lawmakers pass a budget.
“How the heck can they do this, and they’re still selling tickets?” said Homer Glen resident Rhonda Rasche, 48, who is still waiting for the $50,000 she won in July from a $3 scratch-off ticket. “If I was the one selling raffle tickets and I didn’t pay, I would be sued or in jail or both. I feel like it’s fraud.” […]
The suit claims the lottery has continued to pay wages — including the $142,000 salary of acting lottery director B.R. Lane — and money owed to the agency’s troubled private management company, Northstar Lottery Group. […]
“The plaintiffs … are seeking to compel the state to pay the prize money to Lottery winners,” Chicago-based attorney Thomas Zimmerman Jr., who is representing the plaintiffs, said in a written statement Wednesday. “The lawsuit also seeks a court order to halt the sale of lottery tickets with potential winnings in excess of $25,000, and to stop the payment of operational and administrative expenses of the lottery, until all lottery winners are paid.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** Monique…
Senate Dems have also introduced a bill to fund about $4 billion in human service programs, give cities gas tax $, and pay Lottery winners.
— Monique Garcia (@moniquegarcia) September 9, 2015
*** UPDATE 2 *** Nope…
From: Richard Goldberg, Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs To: Members of the Illinois Senate
Date: September 9, 2015
Re: Opposition to Floor Amendment 1 to SB 2046After consulting with Director Tim Nuding of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, I am writing to express the administration’s opposition to Floor Amendment 1 to SB 2046.
Several months ago, Senators Biss, Bush, Morrison, Landek and Noland voted against HB 4165, a bill making appropriations at unbalanced funding levels for the Department of Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. In addition to their votes in opposition (joining all Republican members), Senator Tom Cullerton opted not to vote on the bill either.
Floor Amendment 1 to SB 2046 makes billions of dollars in appropriations at unbalanced funding levels – no different than the legislation these Senators previously opposed. Nearly four months after they first opposed this unbalanced budget, nothing has changed. Floor Amendment 1 to SB 2046 merely represents the latest multi-billion dollar piecemeal attempt to pass the very same unbalanced budget Senators Biss, Bush, Morrison, Landek and Noland opposed four months ago – the same cynical attempt to stick the taxpayers of Illinois with a massive tax hike without reform.
Let me be clear: a vote in favor of Floor Amendment 1 to SB 2046 is a vote for an unbalanced budget, a vote for a massive tax hike without reform and a blatant disregard of the legislature’s constitutional duty to pass a full, balanced budget. Should SB 2046 as amended reach the Governor’s desk, he would veto it.
Rather than pursuing this failed Groundhog Day strategy of putting unbalanced budgets up for a vote every few weeks, we urge Senate Democrats to come back to the negotiating table to pursue compromise, reform and a balanced budget.
*** UPDATE 3 *** From Rikeesha Phelon…
Rather than jumping at every opportunity to send snarky letters from the second floor to the third, the administration should consider holding legitimate budget meetings with the leaders to resolve fiscal issues. Cullerton will show up. Until then, pardon us while we try to advance solutions that meet basic human services responsibilities for the people of this state.
Bye.
She then added…
And what is this “negotiating table” that they speak of?
*** UPDATE 4 *** And it passes…
SB 2046 passes 36-19.
— ILSenateGOP (@ILSenateGOP) September 9, 2015
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:00 pm
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The Plaintiffs have an excellent point. It’s a deadbeat bookie move. Although, hard to find a less sympathetic plaintiff than a lottery winner.
Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:03 pm
Golly gee, can’t you wait for your money to help Rauner gut unions. How selfish can you be.
It will be a laugh riot if this becomes another court ordered funding order.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:06 pm
===“The lawsuit also seeks a court order to halt the sale of lottery tickets with potential winnings in excess of $25,000, and to stop the payment of operational and administrative expenses of the lottery, until all lottery winners are paid.”===
Not that most lottery players are rational, but you’d think the publicity with this case might cause a huge drop in sales. Now there could be another revenue shortfall on our hands.
Heck of a job Raunie.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:07 pm
This is a no-brainier for the Gov .. pay the people the winnings. It comes from sale of tickets so there is really no reason not to.
Comment by cb Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:07 pm
So… are the vendors who sell the winning tickets not getting paid as well? Some of those payouts are gong well over the 25K amount.
http://m.mysuburbanlife.com/2015/08/11/hanover-park-woman-wins-15-million-on-instant-lottery-ticket/ajnvufw/
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:07 pm
there’s no approp for it…nothing they can do. IMO, they should have been forced to stop selling tickets once the fiscal year started and they should be compelled to pay interest to the winners not being paid.
Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:12 pm
If the lottery is not making the promised payments, sales should cease until all is rectified.
Period.
Comment by Jake From Elwood Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:12 pm
Brilliant. It’s kind of like when they proposed to use LiHeap money for the GRF…except it’s ratepayer money and they can’t do it. I guess they sweep what they sew.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:16 pm
Why woild plaintiffs have standing to stop payment of admin and operational expenses? The specila fund is flush so there is no waste issue. Is this a licensed attorney??
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:21 pm
Why stop at the lottery? Suspend collection of all pass through funding that is collected by the State.
For instance, MFT - the State isn’t paying the local agencies their share of the MFT because of the budget impasse so why collect any more MFT at the pump? Instant 18 cent per gallon decrease in prices.
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:24 pm
How much will this cost the taxpayers in legal fees to defend this? If you can pay to operate without a budget, you should pay the winners without a budget or quit selling and start layoffs.
Comment by The Colossus of Roads Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:27 pm
What a scam.
How can they advertise all those multi-million jackpots at every convenience store and gas station in the state?
Those ads are lies. Those prizes do not exist.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:35 pm
Anybody have a bill number for bill Monique tweeted about?
Comment by Bill number Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:40 pm
SB2046
Comment by Nobody Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:47 pm
My guess is that they will pay some interest to the winners paid late. Kind of an odd snafu, but I think not worth stalling the whole system over. Hopefully the legislation Monique tweeted about rectifies this. Those kinds of winners are often the ones who will pour more of their winnings back in. Just a buck and a dream you know… oy
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:47 pm
The lottery is akin to the carnival worker with stuffed bears hanging up above. Make the 5 baskets in a row? Sorry kid, you get a sticker.
Comment by John A Logan Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:50 pm
House of cards.
Too many ready to fall to fix with one-off suits and special bills.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 2:55 pm
Jimmy Kimmel or Fallon ought to get Bruce on their shows along with Rod via phone.
Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:06 pm
A question, how does the Illinois Lottery get away with not awarding all of the grand prizes on their 20 and 30 dollar scratch offs. They just end the games and yet some of those grand prizes are not won. Does the lottery ever disclose that they actually put those tickets into play somewhere in Illinois? To a Legislative Committee? To the Press?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:07 pm
To all knocking games of chance: go spend $20 or more for parking, six or more bucks for a drink, plus more for tickets at a ball game.
A buck for a lotto ticket or a few bucks bet on a horse is an entertainment bargain.
Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:11 pm
– not worth stalling the whole system over.–
Huh? They’re selling tickets for prizes that do not exist. That’s fraud.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:16 pm
I just spent $2 buying two quick picks, not much $$ in the scheme of things, but I will be pixxxd if I had to wait indefinitely for my payout. Odds are not good and maybe just wishful thinking, but lets see what happens.
Comment by illini Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:19 pm
Has the RTA/CTA passed a bill to guarantee their state funds yet? They probably can’t last past October without them.
Comment by Just Me Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:29 pm
+++ Wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:16 pm:
– not worth stalling the whole system over.–
Huh? They’re selling tickets for prizes that do not exist. That’s fraud.++++
I’m confident that the prizes do exist and this is a maddening delay for winners. Of all the things to get your jockey’s in a knot over, I’d let this one sort itself out. Outrage noted.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:29 pm
Think someone is missing the point. If there are 3 $10 mill prizes in a scratch off and only 2 are awarded and that happens regularly. Does the lottery demonstrate to the someone with oversight that the other big prize ticket was actually placed in the stream of commerce and sent to a store somewhere? The Lottery should have to demonstrate that to the legislature e.g. the other prize ticket shipped on such a date to this region and was sold on this date but never claimed or was never sold or perhaps the real story…. was never even shipped and placed in the stream of commerce.
Comment by Mr. Pointer Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:49 pm
I’m excited that Goldberg is now writing letters to Senate Democrats.
This might open more bridges to be burned but the Prince of Snarkness needs his targets. That Goldberg keyboard is going to be worth something someday.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:50 pm
Goldberg’s mildly snarky letter talks about “unbalanced funding levels.” Too bad his boss’ intransigence is causing the state to spend money at “unbalanced levels.”
Yes, Goldberg this does feel like Groundhog Day. The difference is that your boss plays the Murray role of uncaring egotistical person who needs to learn a lesson about improving his behavior, treating people better and actually doing his job.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:52 pm
The plaintiffs should seek asset forfeiture!
Comment by What remedy? Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:56 pm
Ok a question. I noticed that Goldberg mentions a “massive tax hike without reform” is that something he’s said before? I remember last week it was AFSCME was going to cause tax hike. Are we finally at the point where Bruce’s people are anouncing that a massive hike is coming?
Comment by Mason born Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 3:59 pm
While I agree this is frustrating, can everyone throwing out the fraud word please explain how this is fraud? Does the Lottery explicitly state you will get your prize money the second you cash in the ticket???? I think that most rational people would expect some sort of a waiting period, especially with the higher jackpots. Come on people you WILL get your money, it’s just not this second, try showing some common sense and don’t spend money you don’t have yet.
Comment by MrAppropiated Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:01 pm
Working poor who once had daycare benefits and are now considering quitting your jobs…please queue right behind those lottery winners.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:09 pm
Governor, maybe you should start the process by proposing a balanced budget for the legislature to consider and pass. You know, like you are constitutionally mandated to. Quit playing the victim and govern, please. There will be plenty of time to bust the unions over the next three years.
Comment by Tournaround Agenda Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:13 pm
– I’m confident that the prizes do exist–
You simply don’t understand the language.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:14 pm
===Nearly four months after they first opposed this unbalanced budget, nothing has changed.===
Goldberg neatly summarizes the problem. It’s been four months, and nothing has changed.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:18 pm
Oswego- Do you know where they found this character Goldberg at? He just didnt apply and get hired with that great set of people skills he has….
Comment by old time independent Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:19 pm
Selling tickets without prizes is like a Ponzi scheme. Or is it a Fonzie scheme? Maybe that’s it, because Illinois jumped the shark way back in happier days.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:24 pm
Can’t the Repubs in the GA produce a balanced budget and put it bill form? Why have they been so hamstrung to do that for the past decade? They even had Nuding working for them. I just don’t get their obstinance. It seems like they ill-serve their constituencies and the State by not ever doing so. At least we would have an idea that THEY have an idea.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:26 pm
I’m confident that the prizes do exist and that I’ll win them because I’ve got lucky numbers!
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:26 pm
Mr., it’s fraud because at the time of the sale of the ticket, no legal mechanism exists to pay the promised prize. It’s not a question of delay, those prizes do not exist under current law.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:27 pm
The above Anonymous was me.
Comment by My new handle Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:28 pm
The updates;
Rikeesha Phelon, pithy and solid response. The throwaway line? That’s pretty good, Rikeesha
- old time independent -,
Goldberg has turned out to more likely than not be my favorite. He has a role, and does it with flair. It’s not Press, it’s in the nuts and bolts, and inside baseball, and the mere fact his work is in complete balance to it not aiding the bridge… It’s a role, not a job.
The Prince needs his “SnarkTarget”.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:29 pm
Well said Rikeesha Phelon.
P.S. To your question, “And what is this
‘negotiating table’ that they speak of?” If the Rauner folks told you, they’d have to put you in incommunicado.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:31 pm
==I’m confident that the prizes do exist and this is a maddening delay for winners.==
Like Illinois’ bill backlog and vendor payments? The payments do exist, and they often arrive months late with interest.
The state could even argue that lottery winners are similar to those state vendors and creditors. They will get paid when the state can pay them like everyone else.
Nose, face, spite, something. Sheesh.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:36 pm
FKA, read the story. Under current law, the state cannot pay a prize of more than $25,000.
The state is selling tickets promising prizes worth millions, but there is no mechanism to pay those prizes.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:43 pm
==while we try to advance solutions that meet basic human services responsibilities for the people of this state==
Deja vu? SB 2046 is the lottery problem again.
How will they pay? Illinois can sell lottery tickets and ==advance solutions==, but how to pay?
Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:43 pm
“And what is this ‘negotiating table’ that they speak of?”
Like with the Paris Peace Talks during the Vietnam War, they can’t decide the shape of the table…round or rectangle?
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:46 pm
“it’s fraud because at the time of the sale of the ticket, no legal mechanism exists to pay the promised prize. It’s not a question of delay, those prizes do not exist under current law.”
OMG! We just learned this info after 40+ years? Has 100% the Lottery ticket sales gone to the public schools?
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:46 pm
===Like Illinois’ bill backlog and vendor payments? The payments do exist, and they often arrive months late with interest.===
No, they don’t for FY16. Unless a court has ordered it, no one has been paid for work since July 1, and there is no legal claim to payment. Just word of mouth promises and pleas to keep working/delivering.
Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:49 pm
Maybe we can have a raffle to bail out the lottery. Offer a huge jackpot and sell tickets. That might work.
MPEA found out how these pesky appropriations statutes can come back to bite you when the rookie governor is learnin’ the ropes. Now it’s the lottery’s turn.
On second thought, maybe it’s time for a bake sale.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:51 pm
“It’s a role, not a job.”
Just like everyone else in the executive office.
Comment by My new handle Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:51 pm
What is this negotiating table??? I’m thinking it’s code for “step over to the dark side and drink our kool-aid”.
Comment by Flynn's Mom Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:52 pm
@Wordslinger - stand corrected.
Jack Franks agrees with you in an earlier story ==Our government is committing a fraud on the taxpayers, because we’re holding ourselves out as selling a good, and we’re not — we’re not selling anything,” Franks said. “The lottery is a contract: I pay my money, and if I win, you’re obligated to pay me and you have to pay me timely. It doesn’t say if you have money or when you have money.==
Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:53 pm
+++ Wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:14 pm:
– I’m confident that the prizes do exist–
You simply don’t understand the language.++++
Tell you what Solomon, If the $50K winning ticket owner wants to sell me that ticket today for $25K, We can meet at the bank and make a deal. They wouldn’t of course, because while the delay is upsetting and maddening…the money is there, they will get their winnings as soon as the “authorization” to ink the check is provided. It’s maddening. It’s not fraud.
Jeesh, even the oh so helpful attorney isn’t as bold as you are.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:53 pm
===The state could even argue that lottery winners are similar to those state vendors and creditors. They will get paid when the state can pay them like everyone else.===
FKA, I don’t think that argument could be made. These funds are in an entirely separate escrow and never rub up against state revenue gleaned through involuntary taxation; lol.
These are in the voluntary taxation fund.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 4:56 pm
@Wordslinger - gracias. Stand corrected. Jack Franks also agrees with you in an earlier story. My reply quoting him looks stuck in the comment filter.
@A guy - also gracias. That comment needed more thought before pushing ==Say It==.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:00 pm
So Brucie considers it a failure of his turnthingsback agenda to even allow a budget to be introduced by the Repubs, let alone propose a balanced one himself…. Instead he keeps vetoing anything that comes to him.
Comment by D.P.Gumby Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:03 pm
===Just like everyone else in the executive office.===
That’s a bit unfair, but, Goldberg is best.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:04 pm
This has not been an issue for over 40 years. Why is it a problem now?
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:11 pm
More top notch work from smart as a whip Goldberg.
Fortunately for Richard there are plenty of right wing think tanks or DC “consulting” firms he can probably be hooked up with upon leaving this administration. He’d sure never make it if he had to earn a real paycheck.
Comment by Daniel Plainview Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:15 pm
I like Rikeesha.
Comment by burbanite Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:20 pm
==a vote in favor of Floor Amendment 1 to SB 2046 is a vote for an unbalanced budget, a vote for a massive tax hike without reform and a blatant disregard of the legislature’s constitutional duty to pass a full, balanced budget==
You tell ‘em! It’s too bad those horrible legislators want to do to waste more of the taxpayers dollars like that, because we certainly aren’t spending more than we take in now. Stay the course, for we are certainly on the right path!
Comment by AC Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:20 pm
– These funds are in an entirely separate escrow and never rub up against funds gleaned through involuntary taxation…–
Lottery is GRF.
What is the purpose of making up such nonsense?
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:22 pm
Does this mean I will not be able to watch the lottery lady, Linda Kollmeyer, draw the lottery numbers tonight?
Comment by No Longer A Lurker Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:23 pm
This negotiation table is the one the Democrats stopped going to back in like March.
Comment by Just Me Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:24 pm
A guy, that’s not entirely correct. State law requires that any money collected from the lottery from the previous month after prizes are paid and operations are covered get transferred to the Common School fund and the capital projects fund. So it is entirely possible, if the comptroller were in fact following the law, that that money is gone.
But it’s also different from vendors because the vendors have a contract with the State and could pursue action in the court of claims if they don’t get paid for services rendered. And according to the State finance act, contracts should not really be entered into absent appropriation. But the provisions of that law were thrown out the window two months ago.
Comment by Juice Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:26 pm
==This negotiation table is the one the Democrats stopped going to back in like March.==
I hear it’s a great place to read prepared statements at.
Comment by AC Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:27 pm
Just me, that wasn’t a negotiation table, it was a ultimatum table. Either way, sounds like they have not been invited back since May
Comment by MurMan Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:28 pm
If sarcasm and antagonism are what this administration has to offer instead of leadership and governance, the I suppose Mr. Goldberg is the “best.” I have been at a loss to appreciate his missives as promoting the gravity of the need for a budget. If it is a joke to him, maybe Stephen Colbert would hire him as a staff writer. My meager 3.5% state tax shouldn’t be wasted on that drivel.
Comment by My new handle Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:32 pm
Franks is correct. Regardless of the passage of an appropriation, a lottery ticket is a contract.
And unlike contracts with human services providers, there is no disclaimer that says “subject to appropriation”,
Furthermore, unlike vendor contracts, I do not believe lottery winners are entitled to interest for delayed payments.
Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:36 pm
“a vote for a massive tax hike without reform”
To clarify, Gov. Rauner is OK with a massive tax hike if he gets to run unions out of Illinois.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 6:03 pm
Michelle F., yah, that is what he is saying. Weird. I wonder if they equate “massive” with an actual number, too.
Comment by My new handle Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 6:17 pm
Tell Rauner to write his own letters already. This guy has more assistants than I have clerical staff at my agency. Come down off the mountain already Bruce, you can bring your lapdog with you I promise we won’t bite. Sounds like someone is upset because he can’t buy anymore subsidiaries.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 7:06 pm
MurMan — I was referring to the working groups that the Democrats just decided to stop attending.
Comment by Just Me Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 7:54 pm
Rauner’s wrapping up his first year in about 90 days, by then he’ll have a backlog of $11 billion in unpaid bills to show for his efforts and even K-12 schools not getting their money because of cash crunch. Couple that with acting like a hard core anti-union partisan everyday and you get the worst Governor in America award on his 1st anniversary. Congrats Team Rauner!
Comment by anon Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 8:16 pm
I can’t remember a time there was so much back and forth political bickering. This is from both sides too. I don’t know how this gets resolved considering next year is an election year.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 8:58 pm
@Just Me, are those the working groups that start out with Rauner’s people saying, once you approve our turnaround agenda we will talk to you about the budget?
Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 10:40 pm
I have never net Ms. Phelon (or most of the legislators and their staffs) but I like her so far!
It is my understanding that the money used to pay the winners comes from the people purchasing the tickets, and investment returns. Seems to me that it is pass-thru money. We really need to make a law that keeps those items out of the annual budgeting process. That way we can focus our insane arguments over the money that we actually control rather than the money that we just want to control.
Comment by thoughts matter Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 6:54 am
Who needs three branches of gov’t when everything can be resolved by the courts? Another veto and another court battle. Jeez.
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 7:53 am
Lottery is not GRF.
The $ goes into the Lottery fund — then gets distributed to Common School Fund, post expenses/prizes/overhead being deducted.
The money is there… otherwise Lottery winners of prizes under $25k wouldn’t be able to walk-in and get their money.
Sounds like the comptroller just does not have the approp authority to cut the big checks. Kind of ridiculous. Someone should have saw this coming. To me, it’s just evidence that the folks running State government these days have no idea how State government actually functions.
Comment by Centennial Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 8:13 am
+++ Wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 9, 15 @ 5:22 pm:
– These funds are in an entirely separate escrow and never rub up against funds gleaned through involuntary taxation…–
Lottery is GRF.
What is the purpose of making up such nonsense?+++
The real bugaboo here is that I would assume you know better. The Lottery is a highly regulated state gaming system. To buy your argument, it’s a fraud perpetrated on the people of the state since the middle 1970s. To my knowledge, this is the first time there’s been a delay in paying winners above $50K. We’re experiencing a lot of “firsts” during these odd times.
Sample the decaf man.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 8:46 am
Lottery is not GRF, I read a chart incorrectly. Mea culpa, my apologies.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:12 am