Lawmakers scramble for unclaimed lottery prizes

[The Straight Story]

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — So a guy walks into a gas station, buys a scratch-off, wins a few bucks, gets distracted with some fool thing and eventually puts the lucky ticket through the wash in his Wranglers. It happens. No big deal.

But for state lawmakers in a tough budget year nationwide, the unclaimed prizes are adding up to a tempting pot of cash.

"It's something we've seen an increased interest in this year," said Jon Griffin, a policy associate at the National Conference of State Legislatures in Washington.

...

After the prize deadlines lapse —usually within a year, sometimes in as few as 90 days— lottery commissions generally put the money toward future prizes or general state revenues.

...

So far, the boldest proposal would carve out $10 million a year to restore the Battleship Texas, which is anchored at the San Jacinto Battleground in the Houston Ship Channel and draws 100,000 visitors annually.

Bruce Bramlett, executive director of a nonprofit foundation devoted to preservation of the ship, said leaks in the ship, which was commissioned in 1914, have caused damage requiring $75 million in repairs.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/27/lawmakers-unclaimed-lottery-prizes/1951785/

[Politicalboi]

1. I thought lottery was supposed to be used for schools

California had a 20 million jackpot go unclaimed. What they should have to do is either have another drawing with the "Original" tickets, or disperse the money to schools. That money shouldn't be used to restore Battleships. Scrap them if they become too expensive to keep up. Unless they use the battleships for housing, or schooling it's no good. They must get money from the 100,000 visitors. Just raise the admission price.