Well, the Legislature is back in Session and legislators are being flooded with letters from constituents, lobbyists, special interest groups and state agencies, all advocating in favor of their project or issue.

It’s a time of factual absorption for legislators like me. One of the reports which I always find interesting is the one I receive from the Minnesota State Lottery. This year, the Lottery boasts that citizens in Senate District 25 spend $5,092,497 gambling from July, 2005 thru June, 2006. This includes about $3 million for instant “Scratch” tickets and $2.1 million for “On-line” lottery games.

There are 66 retailers who sell lottery tickets in my district, who earned about $312,000 in commissions for selling the tickets. Across the State, sales in 2006 were a record $450 million, which was a 10% increase over the previous year.

I suppose that we can look at these numbers differently. On the one hand, people had enough disposable income, that they were able to spend more on the “entertainment” of gambling. So, the economy must be good! On the other hand, it’s a sad reflection on the priorities we have. Others might point to the $32 million which all of this gambling put into the Environmental Trust Fund, or the $68 million of revenue generated for the State general fund.

I’ve always thought there should be a better way to raise money for the State than gambling. But, we aren’t about to change things now.

Many years ago, I wanted to “teach” my own kids a lesson about gambling. At a church dinner, I purchased 10 pull-tabs, and expected to lose on all of them. I told my kids to watch how quickly I was going to lose $10. Unfortunately, (?), I won $50 on one of the pull-tabs and my kids were delighted as I bought them ice cream with part of the winnings. The lesson I had hoped for was lost.

Over the years, however, I never missed an opportunity to counsel my own children that fortune would be made by hard work, talent, savings, and persistence. I’m not morally opposed to gambling. But, I have seen too many people become addicted to the “Thrill” of a quick win at the casino or lottery ticket.

So, the State is earning about $100 million on lottery sales, but why am I not pleased?