WATE: Campfield-GOP legislation to confiscate TN Lottery winnings from poor, tax-paying winners

[doeriver]

Good news for the Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, etc. State Lotteries: Tennessee Lottery players may be making their way back to play your state lotteries!

Proposed bill would prevent some from winning Tenn. lottery
http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=10113069&ClientType=Printable

If I work and go out and earn a living, why can't I spend the money? Everybody else gets to. Just because I make less money and have more obligations doesn't mean the state can tell me how to spend my money, Arrie Chamberlain says. (photo caption)

By HARLOW SUMERFORD
6 News Reporter
Posted: April 1, 2009 05:17 PM

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Winning the Tennessee Lottery jackpot is a long shot, but a new bill, HB0818, would make it impossible for certain people.



Rep. Stacy Campfield, Knoxville
Tennessee House District 18 Map

"If you can't afford the bare necessities and if you rely on the government for the bare necessities of life, you shouldn't be taking what money you do have and blowing it on the lottery," says Rep. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville).

Campfield's proposal is a hot topic among regular lottery players.

The bill states:

"This bill prohibits issuance of lottery prizes in the amount of $600 or more to any person who receives state or federal economic or medical assistance due to indigency."

Arrie Chamberlain says the measure is unfair. She plays the lottery every week, is on the government's food stamps program and has a job.

"If I work and go out and earn a living, why can't I spend the money? Everybody else gets to. Just because I make less money and have more obligations doesn't mean the state can tell me how to spend my money," Chamberlain says.

But others don't see it that way. Instead, they view it as a waste of taxpayers' money.

"The government is giving you food stamps to survive on. If you need them and qualify for them, you shouldn't use it for something else. I'm talking about lottery tickets, beer," says lottery player David Borden.

...

If the bill passes, net lottery proceeds would decrease by more than $6 million per year. Campfield plans to introduce the bill this legislative session.

(more at link above)

[doeriver]

1. see related Jason Mumpower Tennessee Lottey DUTN post

Mumpower: 'PR Pimpin' Children for Tennessee Lottery Contract
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=179x4535



Rep. Jason Mumpower, R-Bristol
District 3 — Johnson and part of Sullivan Counties

How remarkable --- in 2001, Rep. Jason Mumpower ranted before a large assembled group of church-going lottery haters and reportedly stated something such like enactment of the Tennessee Lottery would "prostitute our children":

(...more at hyperlink above)

[mmgray]

2. Congressman Rep. 9th, Steve Cohen project

I don't think that Steve Cohen will like this. It is his baby, he worked on this to help Tenn. students go to college. If they want him to make a special visit to Nashville,they better think twice. :o