Editorials

130 to 1 (yes, one)

When compromise is a good thing

So the special session of the Legislature didn't turn out to be a firestorm after all. Not even with that oh-so-divisive bill that would have put some limits on the Arkansas Lottery, which is the new Shame of the State now that the grocery tax is being phased out.

It was the speaker of the state's House of Representatives, The Hon. Davy Carter, who warned that adding any restriction on the state's out-of-control lottery commission could bring on a "firestorm."

It turned out to be just a ray of light, for the Ledge adopted a compromise that sailed through both chambers. And the state will get a reprieve from those keno-style electronic games that the commissioners were eager to put here, there and everywhere in Arkansas.

See, y'all, the Ledge can do the right thing. On occasion.

The glorified barkers running the state's lottery wanted to expand into keno, even though the Legislature's oversight committee opposed any such thing. As late as last week, the lottery's croupiers-in-chief seemed determined to get these new games launched before lawmakers had a chance to stop them. But a bill to ban keno passed easily--at least for now, at least until the Ledge can meet in regular session next year and have time to think about this leap into the dark.

In the House, the compromise passed 96-1.

In the Senate, it passed 34-0.

Some firestorm.

Journalists may not be renowned for their command of mathematics, or even simple arithmetic. But with the help of a calculator, we figured out with some degree of certainty that the vote in both chambers added up to 130 to 1 to limit the lottery--for now. (A state rep from Jacksonville, one Mark Perry, voted nay. There's always one, isn't there?)

Now a careful and considered debate can begin. Instead of the state's being rushed into another of the lottery commission's con-jobs.

Come next year, will lawmakers allow the lottery to add these electronic gizmos? That way, bettors wouldn't have to wait for the lottery drawings every few nights. The suckers could buy their tickets, sit on a bar stool, and spend their nights watching TV screens for the (unlikely) moment their numbers come up.

It seems games like Powerball, Mega Millions, Natural State Jackpot, Decades of Dollars, Cash 3 (midday), Cash 3 (evening), Cash 4 (midday), Cash 4 (evening), Arkansas 50/50, the Arkansas Million Dollar Raffle, $1 scratch-off tickets, $5 scratch-off tickets, $10 scratch-off tickets, $20 scratch-off tickets, and all the other play-it-again addictions aren't enough to separate the poor folks from whatever money they've still got. Not according to the state's lottery commissioners, whose appetite for more funds knows no bounds, especially decency.

But this time the Legislature cried: Enough! At least for now. Good for the Ledge. Here's hoping the lottery faces long odds for this proposed expansion.

Long odds. Like, say, 130 to 1.

The lottery's lead carney, Bishop Woosley, told reporters he plans to make his case for keno to lawmakers between now and the next regular session. He'll surely try. The way a carney isn't about to let a sucker pass without urging him to try his hand at a "sure thing."

Here's hoping somebody will be around to remind the lawmakers how the lottery's chieftains tried to bulldoze them at this special session. And foist keno on the state the very next day after the Legislature's oversight committee objected to it.

Here's something else to remember: The lottery's commission told its Bishop not even to negotiate with those state representatives and senators. The commissioners claimed they had every right to start up keno all on their own. And were about to get away with it before the legislators--lots of them--blew the whistle on this hustle.

Somebody will need to be around to remind folks of all that. We can hardly wait.

Editorial on 07/07/2014

Upcoming Events