Lottery Commission Proposing To Drop Mandated Profit

Thursday, September 20th 2007, 8:18 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The head of the state Lottery Commission wants to remove a requirement that it turn a 35% profit in its third year. James Scroggins says dropping the limit will mean more money for prizes and he says that will increase ticket sales and the amount of money the lottery generates for education.

State lawmakers are divided on the proposal.

Democratic state Senator Mike Morgan says it appears the situation needs to be discussed during the next legislative session. And a spokesman for Governor Brad Henry says the governor is open to any idea to increase funding for education.

But Republican state Senator Glenn Coffee says inaccurate projections about lottery profits have created chaos in budgeting for education. And Coffee says the Lottery Commission needs to hire someone who can make accurate projections.