Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) has proposed selling the Texas lottery at a projected $14 billion to fund a program that includes widening healthcare coverage to the uninsured and creating a trust fund for cancer research.
The sale, proposed in Perry's recent State of the State address, would generate $3 billion for cancer research, $2.7 billion for the uninsured, and $8.3 billion for public education.
The first to propose such a plan, Perry faces criticism from key Republican lawmakers who fear the loss of revenues from the state lottery, which fund public programs. State Sen. Steve Ogden (R-Texas) believes the sale will result in private gambling operations. However, a spokesperson for Perry said, "Texans would not see any change; not under the governor's plan."
Lawmakers would retain "administrative oversight" of gambling, the spokesperson said. "The state is not going to relinquish its rights." He said Perry's plan is a rare chance to achieve goals in healthcare and education without having to raise taxes.
Perry's advisors admitted that the proposal falls short in some areas, and acknowledged that money would have to be supplemented from the general fund.