I said last week that House Bill 1048, which would increase the number of video lottery machines per establish, raise bets and prizes, and let a more-empowered state Lottery Commission keep more of its discussions secret, is a bad idea.
The Pierre Capital Journal says HB 1048, especially its expansion of government secrecy, is downright dangerous:
The unspoken implication is that a more businesslike model would be more efficient and responsive to market demands and not bind up policy decisions that are best left to the every day managers. That sounds very appealing to a lot of people.
The problem is, video lottery is not a business and should not be run as one. It’s a government-run program to generate revenue using a method that relies on people making decisions that are not in their financial best interests. There are uncomfortable ethical questions about this practice; let’s at least keep the discussions in the open.
Such a program needs full sunlight at every level, especially the decision-making level. Mix potential exploitation, money and secrecy. What could possibly go wrong? A lot.
It’s as though those proposing this legislation are already forgetting EB-5 and GEAR UP, the scandals of the Rounds and Daugaard administrations. The simple fact is, we need to do more business in the public’s eye, not less; especially where money is concerned [editorial board, “What Are the Odds That Something Could Go Wrong with This Lottery Legislation?” Pierre Capital Journal, 2016.01.17].
Oh yeah, EB-5. GEAR UP. Gant. Corruption. We have a state government busting with corruption stories, and the Lottery Commission wants more power and secrecy? Ha!
House Commerce and Energy gets first crack at House Bill 1048. They haven’t placed it on their agenda yet, but when they do, they should energetically defeat this dangerous expansion of the unelected Lottery Commission’s authority.
The governor is feeling the heat from real voters and could reject further opacity in state government. Keep your legs crossed.