Lottery: Good Or Bad Idea?
It’s been 15 years since Gamscam, the FBI sting that sent two of Washington state’s top legislative leaders and a lobbyist to prison on federal racketeering charges.
Later that year, in his campaign for governor, Republican John Spellman vowed there would be no expansion of state gambling during his administration. But then, in 1982, he signed legislation creating the state lottery.
Now, it seems, state voters are about to decide whether to let Indian tribes in Washington conduct wide-open, casino-style gambling. That proposal (including a promise to give some of the proceeds directly to voters) appears headed to the ballot on the strength of signatures for which the tribes paid those who had gathered them $1 a name.
Two questions for “Bagpipes” readers:
If we’d known where it would lead, would the state have supported the lottery in 1980?
Does paying professionals for the signatures they collect abide by the grass-roots intent of the initiative process? Or is it time, as Secretary of State Ralph Munro has urged, to outlaw payment for signatures?
Readers’ thoughts will be published here Thursday. Submit them by phone, mail or the Internet as explained below.
There’ll be a quiz at the end of the campaign
Despite all the criticism public education receives, school board elections usually produce dull campaigns which attract scant attention. This fall, school districts all over Washington will have board seats on the ballot. Two of them are in Spokane District 81, and one of those will be for an open seat.
If schools truly matter, now is the time to discuss what we want in a school board member. To share your opinions with “Bagpipes” readers, see the information below.
Truth or consequences
A Spokane man, dying of AIDS, is charged with attempted murder, accused by his HIV-positive girlfriend of not warning her about the virus before they had unprotected sex. But he says she knew.
AIDS probably will take its toll before the case goes to trial. But it raises a lasting question:
Informed or not, can anyone who risks unprotected sex with a non-monogamous partner in this AIDS-conscious age blame someone else for the consequences?
Want to join the dialogue on this one? That’s right - the information below tells how.
, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond to issues raised on Tuesdays: Call 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone; or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to celh27b@prodigy.com. Representative replies appear Thursdays. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.