"The administration already has begun discussions with union officials about possible layoffs that would result. The agreement with the private lottery manager would require they retain 70 state employees, but Revenue spokeswoman Elizabeth Brassell said the bidder has expressed interest in the possibility of hiring some of the lottery's other 160 employees."
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"The state's lottery is one of the nation's top performers, which is among the reasons why Democratic lawmakers and union officials have questioned going the privatization route."
"Last year, the lottery posted a record $3.2 billion in ticket sales, producing a profit of nearly $961 million to put into programs for senior citizens. It administrative costs, around 2 percent of ticket sales, are among the lowest of lotteries operating in the nation."
"David Fillman, executive director of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13, said, “There is no good reason to dismantle the lottery. The administration has sold out our seniors and our members without one public hearing; without any legislative oversight and without anyone knowing how they crafted the terms and cut this deal."
"Keep in mind that our lottery is not broken. We’ve set a record for total sales and net profit the last two years. The bottom line here is that every single dollar that this firm is paid comes at the expense of our seniors.”
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/11/consideration_of_privatizing_m.html#incart_river_default
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