Voters OK state-run lottery; UMs pledge vigilance
11-10-2008By JANE DENNIS
Arkansas United Methodist Editor
While the 2008 presidential race and a number of state and national races and ballot issues were of concern to United Methodists in Arkansas, a proposed amendment to the state constitution to create a state-run lottery drew the most organized opposition within the church.
Leaders of United Methodists Against Gambling (UMAG) and the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church, on Election Night, Nov. 4, expressed regret that approval was given to the lottery amendment, which was championed by Lt. Gov. Bill Halter and designates proceeds for college scholarships.
Church leaders said they “deeply regret that Amendment 3 has passed,” according to a statement from UMAG and the conference. “We felt, and continue to feel, that a state-run lottery is not in the best interest of the people of Arkansas. We will monitor the planning and implementation of the lottery should it be authorized by the legislature and will consider future actions accordingly.”
The Arkansas lottery amendment received 640,978 votes to 380,110 against the measure, or 63 percent to 37 percent.
In the future, the church leaders said they will urge the legislature to: 1) reject a state lottery; 2) enact alternative methods for funding college scholarships; 3) refer to the 2010 general election ballot a constitutional amendment that restricts the definition of state lotteries to exclude all games of chance except the sale of lottery tickets; and 4) if a lottery is authorized, to enact restrictions on targeting low- and middle-income citizens and the elderly when the state promotes and advertises the lottery.
United Methodists Against Gambling is a coalition of United Methodists opposed to the State Lottery Amendment. The group has the support of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church.
The Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church represents 138,000 members in 715 United Methodist congregations throughout the state
