Easley wants to increase lottery sales

Governor Easley wants to crank up lottery sales so more funds will be available for education. The lottery has not produced the level of income projected when it was started and some programs may have to be cut or taxes raised to continue them.

News and Observer
April 8, 2007
J. Andrew Curliss, Staff Writer

Easley vows to perk up lottery
Gov. Mike Easley has a lottery itch he hopes players will scratch.

Faced with lagging sales, Easley wants to pump up prizes and spark a spending spree on North Carolina's instant ticket scratch-off lottery games starting this summer.

But numbers from other states suggest the governor's plan isn't a sure thing. And if it doesn't pan out, some of his key education programs would again face cuts or need taxpayer help to make ends meet. That is the situation this year after the lottery missed its goals. Read more...