State Senate approves funding for state lottery startup

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Senate approves a bill to provide $500,000 in startup money for the new state lottery.<br/><br/>The appropriation to the Oklahoma Education Lottery Commission had been

Friday, March 18th 2005, 6:22 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Senate approves a bill to provide $500,000 in startup money for the new state lottery.

The appropriation to the Oklahoma Education Lottery Commission had been tied up for weeks as lawmakers tried to resolve funding requirements of the constitutional lottery amendment adopted by voters last November.

Ardmore state Senator Johnnie Crutchfield said Thursday under an agreement by legislative budget writers, the funding will be sent to the commission from excess revenue.

It was approved on a 30-to-13 vote and now goes to the House for consideration.

Lottery Commission members need the funding to begin the process of hiring an executive director and other projects. The panel will have until 2007 to repay the funds.

Oklahoma City commission member William Paul says the commission would do its best to begin the sale of scratch-on lottery tickets by the October target date proposed by Governor Brad Henry.