MEGA MILLIONS CASE REVIEWED JUDGE SEEKS ADDITIONAL ARGUMENTS FROM EACH SIDE, SETS MARCH COURT DATE.Byline: Steve Geissinger Sacramento Bureau SACRAMENTO - A Sacramento judge on Friday questioned state attorneys fighting to prove California's entrance into the multistate mul·ti·state adj. Of, relating to, or involving several states: a multistate environmental campaign. Mega Millions Mega Millions is a multi-state US$1 lottery game in the United States. Twelve U.S. states currently license Mega Millions as a provider of multistate lotteries in those states (29 states, the District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands license Powerball, Mega Millions' main lotto last June was legal, saying he found aspects of their arguments unsettling un·set·tle v. un·set·tled, un·set·tling, un·set·tles v.tr. 1. To displace from a settled condition; disrupt. 2. To make uneasy; disturb. v.intr. or inaccurate. Superior Court Judge Lloyd Connelly - who said he believes Californians may be ``disadvantaged'' by certain game factors - also questioned the anti-gambling group that wants the game shut down in California as unconstitutional unconstitutional adj. referring to a statute, governmental conduct, court decision or private contract (such as a covenant which purports to limit transfer of real property only to Caucasians) which violate one or more provisions of the U. S. Constitution. . The judge ordered both sides to provide additional arguments and set a March court date, after which Connelly said he will rule. At the center of the court battle is whether voters in 1984 approved a lottery just within California, or one that could be connected to other states. The Attorney General's Office said the move was legal but the nonpartisan non·par·ti·san adj. Based on, influenced by, affiliated with, or supporting the interests or policies of no single political party: a nonpartisan commission; nonpartisan opinions. Legislative Counsel's Office disagreed. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): [ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈaloɪ̯s ˈʃvaɐ̯ʦənˌʔɛɡɐ] supports joining Mega Millions as a way to raise more money for schools in deficit-plagued California. A third of all lottery sales go to education. During court arguments, Marc Le Forestier, the deputy state attorney general who represented the lottery, said the joint powers authority A Joint Powers Authority (JPA) is an institution permitted under the laws of some states of the USA, whereby two or more public authorities (e.g. local governments, or utility or transport districts) can operate collectively. set up between California and other Mega Millions states does not relinquish any essential powers to them. The Lottery Commission was simply ``exercising discretion'' as permitted under the Lottery Act, Le Forestier argued. But Nick Roxborough of Woodland Hills - attorney for Californians for Gambling Expansion - disagreed, saying California is giving up control in a lotto game that's structured and managed differently than those in this state. Connelly said the assertion was ``discomforting'' and that he thought claims were ``wrong'' that Mega Millions would not affect voter-mandated divisions of California lottery finances. The judge said he also felt Californians may be disadvantaged by the fact that gamblers in many other states have more time - up to a year - to collect their prizes. In California, players have only 180 days. Steve Geissinger, (916) 447-9302 sgeissinger(at)angnewspapers.com |
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