Lottery bill advances in Senate

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma is another step closer to having a statewide vote on a lottery proposal.<br><p align="justify">A measure seeking the vote won approval today from a Senate subcommittee.<br><p

Tuesday, February 20th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma is another step closer to having a statewide vote on a lottery proposal.

A measure seeking the vote won approval today from a Senate subcommittee.

Senator Brad Henry says he's sponsoring the measure as a way to infuse needed money into education. He opposed the lottery concept in the past.

But the Shawnee Democrat says he changed his mind after seeing all the states surrounding Oklahoma, expect Arkansas, siphoning off money from lotteries to benefit state schools.

He says the lottery could pull in $500 million, based on a similar lottery proposal in Oregon.

Senator Glen Coffee of Oklahoma City says lotteries typically take money from low-income citizens who should not be tempted by a government-run gambling program.