In yet the newest example of how ridiculous Republicans can get, we get this:
JEFFERSON CITY — Gov. Jay Nixon would be forced to gamble for funds to bolster the state's declining budget under legislation proposed by a few Republican lawmakers.
Yes, you read that right. A few Republicans in the Missouri General Assembly are proposing that as a method of balancing the state budget
The bill, proposed by Rep. Mark Parkinson, R-St. Charles County, would deduct $2 from Nixon's paycheck twice a month to buy Powerball lottery tickets and place any potential winnings in a fund called "Governor Nixon's Scratch-off, Match-off Fund."
The fund would be dissolved and moved into the General Revenue Fund if the governor's potential winnings were to match or exceed $300 million — the exact amount in Nixon's budget recommendation for fiscal year 2011 that comes from an extension of federal stabilization funds that has not yet been approved by Congress.
So there you have it. Just play the lottery and everyone's problems are solved!
Of course, this should work for everyone in the Missouri state government, don't ya' think?
May Scheve Reardon, director of the Missouri Lottery, said her department reviewed the legislation and would suggest two additional amendments: all legislators play Powerball and the governor also play Mega Millions, another multi-state lottery game the lottery introduced in January.
Naturally, you'd be mistaken:
Smith said he didn't think it would be fair to ask legislators — who are paid just over $30,000 — to deduct lottery tickets from their salaries, but he said it wouldn't make a large dent in the governor's salary.
Nixon was paid $123,970.18 last year, according to the Missouri Accountability Portal.
And just for added measure, there is this:
Despite his bill, Parkinson said he doesn't play the lottery.
"I think it's a self-imposed tax on stupidity," he said.
Says a lot for the guy.
Read the whole thing
here at the Columbia Missourian website