N.C. Senate passes lottery; opponents still riled over education issues

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina is set to become the final state on the East Coast to start a lottery after the lieutenant governor broke a Senate tie Tuesday, voting to create a game supporters have sought for more than 20 years.

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, the Senate's presiding officer, sided with most of her Democratic colleagues when she broke the 24-24 tie.

Scratch-off games may be available within six or seven months, said Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, D-Cumberland. Numerical games would follow. A nine-member state lottery will decide which kind of games will be offered. With the commission's OK, the director can enter the N.C. lottery into multistate agreements, such as Powerball or Mega Millions.

The legislation will funnel an estimated $400 million annually to public school construction, college scholarships and Gov. Mike Easley's class-size reduction and preschool programs.

The governor, who has championed the lottery since his election in 2001, will sign the bill on Wednesday.

As it was in the Legislature, Brunswick County support for the lottery was mixed.

"I think it's wonderful," said Elaine Pierce of Leland, N.C. "Everybody in the state goes to South Carolina to buy tickets now. Where's that money going?"

Pierce said she has lunch in Little River and fills her car with gas when she goes to Horry County to buy lottery tickets. When the North Carolina lottery starts, that money will be spent in Brunswick County, she said.

David Sandifer, Brunswick commissioners' chairman, opposed the lottery. He said he's not convinced Brunswick schools will get a fair share of lottery sales.

The state will distribute the money based on a county's wealth, he said. With Brunswick County a Tier two county, those ranked Tier three through five will get a bigger share than those that are one or two.

Sandifer said he also fears the state will use the new lottery money as a reason to reduce the normal school funding.

Polls have shown that most state residents want a lottery, but last week the game appeared to have once again died in the Legislature. The Senate left Raleigh unable to persuade one of the five Democrats and all 21 Republicans who opposed the lottery for weeks to switch sides. Senate leader Marc Basnight promised the chamber was done for the year and would not return.

That pleased S.C. lottery and government officials and vendors near the N.C. line. A Tarheel lottery could cost South Carolinas game more than $150 million a year in revenue and could take up to $45 million out of educational programs, S.C. officials have said.

Their relief was short-lived. Basnight, a Democrat from coastal Dare County, changed his mind Friday about ending the session. And with two Republican senators absent Tuesday, Democrats had the votes - with Perdue's help - to push it through.

The Senate adjourned soon after the lottery's passage. Basnight again said they wouldn't be back.

The two absent Republican senators, Harry Brown of Onslow County and Robert Garwood of Wilkes County, declined to use a parliamentary procedure that could have kept lottery supporters from winning.

Brown is on his honeymoon, and Garwood is recovering from a leg infection at his home. Neither immediately returned phone calls seeking comment Tuesday.

The measure passed the House by just two votes earlier this year. Rep. Dewey Hill, D-Columbus, said he changed his mind and supported the lottery vote in the House when he saw how many North Carolinians were buying lottery tickets and other things at a convenience store just across the line from Tabor City.

Brunswick County Commissioner Bill Sue isn't swayed by taxes on other things that North Carolina may be losing. He said the lottery will amount to a tax on the poor, who will spend money trying to get rich quick instead of on essentials.

Mike Richards, owner of the Midway Trading Post on N.C. 211, said he doesn't mind the gambling, but he's worried state regulations for ticket sales outlets will be more than he wants to deal with.

"Me personally," Richards said, "I don't feel a lottery's necessary."