Barry Smith
Freedom Raleigh Bureau
RALEIGH – Much of the attention in the debate in the state Senate over a lottery bill has focused on five Democrats who are breaking with the majority in their party and opposing the gambling games.
But a freshman Republican senator – Harry Brown, who represents Jones and Onslow counties – has also found himself in the middle of the mix. That’s because unlike his GOP colleagues in the Senate, he’s let it be known that under certain circumstances, he’d be willing to vote for a lottery.
"He’s a real popular guy right now," Sen. Phil Berger, the Senate’s Republican leader from Rockingham County said of all the attention that Brown is getting from lottery supporters.
Brown appears to be sticking to his guns that he will vote for a lottery only if the proceeds go to help build schools.
"I made my statement that the only way I can support the lottery is for all the money to go to school construction," Brown said.
Under the proposal being considered, less than half the money – 40 percent – would go toward school construction. Another half of the net proceeds would go to help reduce class size, reduce the achievement gap between minority and white children and pre-kindergarten programs. The remaining 10 percent would be used for college scholarships.
"That money will come into the front door and go out the back door," Brown said.
Brown said that while he is morally opposed to a lottery, he could vote for a school construction lottery because of the needs in Jones County.
"They need a high school and a middle school with no way to raise the money," Brown said.
Sen. Tony Rand, a Cumberland County Democrat who is also the Senate majority leader and floor handler of the lottery, said that the current bill would provide considerable money for school construction in the counties that Brown represents.
Figures show that Onslow County would get $3.3 million a year and Jones County would get $203,000 a year in school construction lottery proceeds.
Rand said that the spending plan for lottery proceeds is a good mix.
"We think what we’ve done is a very good balance," Rand said.
He noted that Gov. Mike Easley, who has championed the lottery, has compromised by agreeing to allow money to be spent for construction.
"I think he’s a fellow who cares about the future of North Carolina and cares about these children," Rand said of Brown.
The Senate is scheduled to reconvene next week, when the lottery may come up again. Currently, lottery supporters don’t have enough votes to pass the measure.
Barry Smith can be reached at [email protected].
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