Since the Tennessee Senate and House approved a resolution last month to allow Tennessee voters to voice their opinion about a statewide lottery at the Nov. 5, 2002 gubernatorial election, several debates concerning the lottery's usefulness have been sparked.
Supporters of a state lottery said it will be used to increase funds for the Tennessee education system.
According to Carol Chumney, representative for the 89th District and supporter of the state lottery, the money from a lottery will not go to eliminate state debt.
"The lottery is not a replacement for sound fiscal policy in Tennessee," Chumney said. "A lottery is icing on the cake to improve education funding."
Joe Kent, representative for District 83, said he is supportive of the lottery because it will bring additional money to the state.
"A lottery will bring in additional money to the state," Kent said. "Any money is better than what we currently have. Eighty percent of the people in my district are happy that they will have the chance to vote for a statewide lottery."
US Congressman Bob Clement is very supportive of the state's referendum to vote on a lottery. Clement said he thinks the lottery referendum is the perfect starting point toward statewide improvement.
"Should the lottery be approved by Tennessee voters, I strongly believe that revenues collected from the lottery, which could be as much as $250 million annually, should be directly and solely invested in education programs across this state-ranging from K-12 education in urban and rural communities, scholarships for higher education and advanced technology in our classrooms," Clement said.
Many students at The University of Memphis said they see the lottery as a benefit to Tennessee.
"I am very much for a state lottery," junior psychology major Brandi Taylor said. "A lottery is a good way to bring in money for the state. I would buy a lottery ticket if we had a lottery."
"I am from Georgia and we have tons of lotteries down there," freshman criminal justice major Kimberly Horton said. "The lotteries helped the school systems a lot. A Tennessee lottery would be great if it were used for schools."
"I am not a gambling fan, but the money going to Tunica is stupid," Steve North, freshman political science major, said. "The money could be used to improve education."
"Anything that helps the education system is good," Kim Dacus, sophomore business major, said. "I am for a lottery, as long as it helps."
"I am for a state lottery. Anything that help the city would be great," Adrienne Burns, senior accounting major, said. "But, the money should go where they say it will go."
While many students and professors think the lottery is a good idea to help education funding, there are others that think a lottery is bad news for the state.
District 16 representative Bill Dunn said he is in opposition to the lottery because it's bad public policy to encourage people to gamble. It is not a function of state government to encourage the people of Tennessee to throw away their money, he said.
According to the amendment that was passed, the money from the lottery will start new education programs, not help old ones, Dunn said. The amendment stated that new programs must be established.
"I will vote against the lottery in the 2002 election," Dunn said. "I just might break the 'NO' button when I vote. I will push it that hard."
District 19 representative Jim Boyer said he will publicly vote against a statewide lottery in 2002 because it is not right for Tennessee to operate money for gambling functions. The lottery will probably encourage people with less money to play the lottery.
Boyer said he did vote in favor of the lottery bill in the 101st general assembly because he said he believes Tennesseans should have the chance to vote for a statewide lottery. Boyer, though, said he will publicly campaign against the lottery in the 2002 election.
"A lottery is a poor example to set before Tennessee citizens," Boyer said. "Sixty-one percent of the people that play the lottery believe they will win. Odds are one in 3 million that you will win if you play. It is not very smart."
Some U of M students and faculty said they were against the lottery.
"I am against the lottery for religious reasons," Yatasha Holliday, sophomore special education major, said. "There are better ways to increase education funding besides gambling. I am against gambling, period."
"A state lottery is a way to raise revenue at the state level and a way to keep revenue in the state. But, there are better ways to raise state revenue," Julie Heath, economics chair, said. "Gambling will be detrimental to lower income people."
"I don't want a state lottery. I think there are so many accidents in Tunica, and we don't need that in Tennessee," Rachel Grimes, senior elementary education major, said. "I think a state lottery will contribute to the moral decline of our country."
