The Senate has a Democratic majority, and the House has a Republican majority. Only days after the state House agreed to turn the question over to voters in November 2000, Gov. Jim Hodges' staff and his supporters are gearing up to sell the referendum to voters across the state. The problem has been the legislature, which was reluctant to vote for it. Reluctant until recently, that is. Members of the House, which has a Democratic majority, voted 88-31 on April 7 to ask citizens to amend the state constitution and allow for a state lottery with proceeds earmarked for educational initiatives.
Lotteries currently are illegal in South Carolina.
The lottery funds would be spent for educational purposes. The Senate, however, will likely agree to accept the House's version of the legislation, eliminating the need for a House-Senate conference, Ms. Brook of the governor's office said. Work on the lottery measure is expected to be wrapped up in late May, in plenty of time to put a question on the ballot next year. Last week, the Alabama Senate voted 24-11 to ask voters to consider a referendum this year legalizing a lottery, said Carrie Kurlander, a spokeswoman for Gov. Donald Siegelman. The state House passed similar legislation earlier this month.