A British-based firm, Camelot Global Services, says it can provide more than $34 billion in profits over 20 years if it wins the right to manage the Pennsylvania Lottery.
The firm, which runs the national lottery in the United Kingdom, would need to generate a profit 3 to 4 percent greater than it currently generates to meet its projections.
So, according to Dave Fillman, executive director of AFSCME Council 13, "There is no good reason to dismantle the lottery."
Well, for starters, how about getting the state government out of a major arm of the gambling business while generating even more funds for programs that benefit the elderly in Pennsylvania? While the lottery has been successful, we wonder whether gambling is considered a responsibility of state government.
Pennsylvania state government already staring at mounting pension debt needs to reduce the number of people who will be owed pensions in the future.
That's especially true when the people eliminated won't be losing jobs. Should Camelot win the contract, the number of state employees connected to the lottery would be reduced from 230 to 70, but the rest would be able to interview with Camelot.
We would think they would be well qualified to work for Camelot.
The issue isn't jobs, it's public union jobs.
But the state government's responsibility is to provide the most benefits and services for its people in the most efficient, frugal way possible. If privatizing the lottery meets that criteria, it's the correct thing to do.
