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Halter brings pitch for lottery to Benton |
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Monday, 21 January 2008 |
 Lt. Gov. Bill Halter is passionate about education and wants the state to establish a lottery that would raise scholarship funds to help people enter higher institutions of learning. (Courier photo by Lynda Hollenbeck)
By establishing a statewide lottery, Halter believes an unfavorable statistic could change.
“Arkansas is 49th among the 50 states in adults without college degrees,” Halter said during a visit Friday in Benton.
“This is at the same time when higher education becomes more important to the state’s economic success and simultaneously while obtaining an education is is becoming more expensive.
“This is not the best way to prepare for jobs in the 21st century,” he said.
Halter pointed out that his proposal addresses state lotteries only. “This amendment would not change state law that bans casinos,” he said.
He said a lottery could generate in excess of $100 million in net revenue that would supplement, not replace, existing college scholarship funding for residents to attend Arkansas schools, including two- or four-year institutions.
Arkansas is one of the few states without a lottery, he noted. “Forty-two states and the District of columbia have lotteries,” he said.
He pointed out that Arkansas is bordered by six states that have lotteries. “Lotteries in these states are taking money from Arkansas residents,” he said.
Halter’s proposal does not address only traditional college students. Revenue raised by a lottery “would allow adults to go back to school for additional training and re-training and also would be available to adults to attend community colleges to hone up skills,” he said.
Funds from the lottery also could be used to support pre-kindergarten programs.
Halter believes the key to garnering support for the proposal is to help people realize the need for increased education in order for Arkansans to compete economically.
“It would help us develop a better-trained work force,” Halter said.
He is optimistic that voters are becoming receptive to the possibility of establishing a lottery and believes the current proposal is written in a manner that will be supported by a majority of the state’s residents.
“Public opinion polls show the majority of people support it,” he said.
“Arkansans never have been presented a crisp, clear proposal on lotteries,” Halter said. “This does not include other forms of gaming and the revenue would strictly fund scholarships. It’s the first clear shot at education.”
Halter said two organized groups have voiced opposition to the proposal. “I respect their opinions ... I expect there to be good, healthy debate.”
To get the proposal on the ballot, Halter must obtain more than 78,000 signatures.
He did not say how many have been received to date, but said “we’ve made good progress. I feel comfortable in getting it on the ballot.”
Halter’s interest in an educational lottery isn’t new. “I started talking about it two years ago. It was an issue in my campaign, so this is not a surprise to anyone.”
The proposal should generate “good debate,” he said. “When people feel strongly about something, it’s the talk at the barber shops and town hall meetings.”
Before Halter’s visit to the Courier, he had had lunch at Sharon’s Diner with Larry Cogburn, executive director of the Central Arkansas Development Council, and visited with several elected officials.
He also met with Eddie Black, interim executive director of the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce.
Following that visit, Black was asked if the chamber has taken a position on Halter’s educational lottery proposal.
“We haven’t even discussed it,” Black said. “It has never come up and I’ve not heard anyone say how they feel about it.” |
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