Response on the lottery expenses/salaries

Lots of activity on the lottery front today. I've been asked by two three reporters for a response on those calling for resignations of lottery officials today. In addition to what I wrote in the comments section earlier this week, here's my response:

Reasonable minds will prevail here, but I think everyone just needs to calm down and take a step back and relax. The voters elected to give the lottery commission autonomy, and those calling for resignations simply need to let the process work. If the Arkansas lottery falls short of expectations, voters will have the opportunity to revisit whether or not we need a lottery in the state. If the lottery is a huge success, the voters may view the high administrative expenses as a necessity. We simply need to let the process play itself out.

I don't like seeing these high salaries being paid out at the expense of scholarships, but my constituents didn't want the legislature micromanaging in the day to day operations of the lottery, and I intend to honor that request with the expectation that the lottery commission will act in the best interests of Arkansas students and taxpayers.