The California Lottery

California is not the only state to institute a state lottery, and the fact that California has done so is in part a response to a perception of success in other states. Yet, this is also an issue that has raised serious questions regarding the feasibility of using a lottery to raise revenues, the morality of using this particular method, and the social consequences of such a policy. Beck et al. (1985) cite concerns such as possible erosion of the work ethic, abetting "undesirable elements," misleading of players over possible winnings and odds, the addiction to these revenues on the part of state officials, and the fear that lotteries constitute a regressive tax on those who can least afford to pay (p. 16). The California State Lottery was instituted following the election of November, 1984 and the passage of Proposition 37, with the start-up date being March 21, 1985. With passage, thousands of retailers had to be licensed to sell lottery tickets, a pro

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ifornia Federation of Teachers, held back support for two reasons: 1) uncertainty as to whether they wanted education partially financed by gambling; and 2) because some of the groups would rather see such money go into school building and maintenance, an area short of funds for some years (Endicott: p. A3). It was reported before the proposition was even placed on the ballot that according to polls, 70 percent of California voters supported a legalized lottery, adding California to the 17 other states with a lottery. The legislature, however, had been rejecting such proposals for twenty years, and backers had previously been unable to raise sufficient financial support to place the issue on the ballot. The latest effort, on the other hand, had enough money to accomplish this task (Wood, 1984: p. A1). PROCESS OF POLICY FORMATION The process of policy formation shows the operation of the process theory, with policy as political activity. The introduction of bills in the legislature for ten years was part of this policy process. These attempts could have been successful, in which case the issue would have been settled. The bills were either defeated or languished in committee, never brought to a vote. By 1984, the polls
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Approximate Word count = 1329
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)

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