Lawmakers scramble to get votes for a sports lottery on spring ballot

0 Comments | Milwaukee Journal, The, Feb 15, 1995 | by RICHARD P. JONES

Madison, Wis. Lawmakers promoting a sports lottery to help the Milwaukee Brewers build a new stadium were trying to line up votes Wednesday for passage in the Senate.

The Legislature must pass the sports lottery by Tuesday to get in on the spring ballot for ratification by the voters, and approval in the Senate Wednesday was far from certain.

Last session, the Senate approved the sports lottery amendment on a 19-14 vote, but Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay), a leading sports lottery opponent, said some of his colleagues who favored the lottery last time were having second thoughts.

It appeared that proponents might be without one key vote. Sen. Joseph Andrea (D-Kenosha) fell on the ice early Wednesday, hit his head and required stitches, according to Senate Minority Leader Robert Jauch (D- Poplar).

Andrea aide Mike Felber said the senator slipped on ice while walking to the Capitol early Wednesday and suffered a cut to the back of his head requiring stitches. Felber said Andrea was treated at Meriter Hospital and was resting in his hotel room.

Assistant Senate Majority Leader Margaret Farrow (R-Elm Grove), chief sponsor of the sports lottery in the Senate, said the Legislature had to pass the constitutional amendment by 5 p.m. Tuesday to get it on the spring ballot.

A constitutional amendment must be approved by the Legislature in two consecutive sessions, then ratified by the voters. The Legislature approved the sports lottery amendment last session. The proposal is now up for second consideration. `Tight' Vote

"It's going to be real tight, very tight," Farrow said. She said she was trying to convince Senate President Brian Rude (R- Coon Valley) and Sen. Joseph Wineke (D-Verona).

"It has to pass," Farrow said. She said the Legislature needed to preserve it as a funding alternative for the stadium commission. "It's one way to get voluntary public funding for these sports facilities, namely initially the stadium, rather than having to look at a mandatory tax, be it property, sales or whatever."

Another lottery proponent, Sen. Gary George (D-Milwaukee), said the Senate vote expected Wednesday was too close to call.

Jauch said Andrea might prove to be the crucial vote for sports lottery proponents.

"We don't know when he's going to be able to get in," Jauch said. "That puts the proponents one more run behind in the game."

Jauch said the sports lottery probably would pass by a slim vote Wednesday in the Senate, and the bigger battle for proponents will be getting it approved in the referendum. He said his constituents opposed a sports lottery for Brewers by a margin of 3-to-1.

"I'm angry that we're put in the position of being the obstacle to keeping the Brewers in Wisconsin," Jauch said. "If we vote against this today, if it's defeated today, it becomes a convenient excuse for people to take the Brewers out of Wisconsin and blame the Legislature."