Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant says he might be willing to take a chance on a state lottery, even though supporting one in 1990 helped lose former Governor Ray Mabus his job.
Subsequent governors have used their veto pen to squash any attempts to revive the idea. Just a few months ago Governor Bryant called the idea of a lottery, “a silly notion.”
However, one overwhelming factor has changed, and may bring lawmakers and the governor around: falling state revenues. Most neighboring states, except Alabama, have them.
Last week when reporters were questioning top state officials, including the governor, Lt. Governor Tate Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn, Bryant stunned many by saying, “I would be open to a general discussion regarding a statewide lottery,” adding, “However, I would be opposed to this particular revenue being dedicated to specific expenses, such as public education. Our children’s future should not be left to a game of chance.”
That was the first time in three decades that a governor of the state had said anything other than to promise a quick veto of any such bill.
Reeves, who is seen a likely candidate for Bryant’s job in three years, said, “The economic question that must be answered: Would a state lottery add to the economic pie or would it simply shift Mississippians’ disposable income from one outlet to another? … Would any perceived increase in revenue from a lottery be offset by reductions in sales tax collections and gaming receipts?”
Recently another possible candidate for governor, Attorney General Jim Hood spoke more optimistically about a lottery during an interview at a county fair. He said a lottery might be a boon for the state budget and schools.
Gunn is opposed. In a statement he said, “I do not favor a state lottery or the issue coming to the House floor again for a vote,” he wrote. He added, “I have not seen any data that shows a lottery would bring any additional income to the state. It is unknown if there would be any financial benefit to the state.”
But if the state budget remains in the red, voters might view a lottery more favorably than a tax hike, political observers say.
Earlier this year Rep. Tommy Reynolds, who put a lottery amendment on a bill that the House approved, only to see the bill sink in the Senate, predicted that the state would generate $160 million a year in taxes.
Other calculations differ. The legislative watchdog PEER Committee in 1989 estimated that a lottery would collect between $10 million and $45 million annually in taxes. Mississippi House Gaming Committee Chairman Richard Bennett says that calculation is way outdated. He favors studying the issue.
Adding a lottery to the mix has nothing to do with the ethos of gaming. The state has had casino gaming for a quarter century. Many state residents cross the border to buy lottery tickets.
Neighboring Alabama had a fierce battle this summer over the lottery, only to see it fail. Louisiana this year raised $508 million, with $178 million of that going into the state’s coffers.
