New Jersey Looks To Privatize Lottery Operations
By David Madden
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) - Like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, is looking into taking the operations of its state lottery private. Assembly members held a hearing in Trenton to discuss the potential impact of such a plan.
Only Illinois has taken such a move and they're having problems. Unionized state workers in New Jersey, along with lottery retailers see privatization as a bad idea.
Members of the Christie Administration that were asked to appear before the Budget Committee declined, since there's a request for proposals out there.
That didn't sit well with committee chair Vincent Prieto.
"We're actually navigating in the dark. I don't like it. The administration talks about transparency and that's what we should be having, a dialogue so at least we can ask all these questions," says Prieto.
But there are some, Republicans mostly, who suggest that, at least looking into privatization is not necessarily a bad thing particularly if it trims costs and increases sales.
