Reslice the pie says Easley

Another twist in Governor Easley's budget has bubbled to the surface. Now he wants to "reslice" the lottery pie to direct more funds toward four year old education. Easley frequently wants to stir the pot if he can tie the topic to "his" education plans but this one would spark another debate about how lottery funds are used. In the midst of raging discussions about changing school terms and build new school sites the governor wants to take funds away from the urgent need for building.

From the news release...

News and Observer
March 2, 2007
J. Andrew Curliss, Staff Writer

Reslice lottery pie, says Easley
Reopening a debate, the governor thinks more money should go to his signature preschool

Gov. Mike Easley is proposing a reordering of what North Carolina's new lottery pays for, spending less on school construction and college scholarships and more on his signature program for pre-schoolers.

Easley, a Democrat, included the spending changes in his budget proposal for the next fiscal year. His plan is uncertain, however, because it reopens the long debate over how lottery money should be used. Legislators in 2005 fought long and often over how to divvy the proceeds and decided by slim votes to create the games of chance. Read more...