Some lawmakers critical of Lottery bonuses, propose changes

ATLANTA - Some lawmakers are up in arms over big bonuses paid out to Georgia Lottery employees.<br /> <br /> The Lottery board approved nearly $3 million in bonuses to employees this year.<br /> <br /> Senate Majority Whip Mitch Seabaugh filed legislation Friday that, among other things, would mandate that all Lottery spending, including employee bonuses, be approved by a committee of legislative leaders.<br /> <br /> Another lawmaker plans to file a bill to force the Lottery to give more ticket sales money to education programs, such as the HOPE scholarship and pre-kindergarten classes.<br /> <br /> Lottery officials say the bonuses are needed to provide incentives to employees, and at least one lawmaker, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, says the changes being proposed are unnecessary.<br /> <br /> Gov. Sonny Perdue does not support expanding the power of lawmakers to help run the Lottery.<br /> <br /> "Gov. Perdue hasn't seen this proposed legislation, but he is aware that recent Lottery revenue reports are at an all-time high," Perdue spokeswoman Heather Teilhet told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "The Lottery's private enterprise structure is a primary reason for its success."<br /> <br />

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