Parks Have No Luck Getting Lottery Loot

The state Senate has abandoned any attempt to override Gov. Phil Batt’s veto of legislation diverting $1 million in state Lottery profits to parks and recreation facility development.

The legislation, which Batt said would break faith with the Idaho voters who backed creation of the Lottery, had a solid third of the Senate opposed to it originally - enough to have sustained the governor’s objection.

“It’s very obvious we don’t have the votes to override the veto,” said Senate Finance Chairman Atwell Parry, who spearheaded the drive for the diversion.

Batt rejected the bill on Monday, underscoring his warning to lawmakers earlier in the day that he would use the veto stamp on anything that threatens state support for education.

“Although I recognize the beneficial effect which additional park facilities would have within the state, I do not believe this bill carries out the will of Idaho voters,” Batt wrote in his veto message. , DataTimes