I’m more than a little surprised that the state of North Carolina has jumped to the “for the children” defense of the lotto’s constitutionality. The North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law has the matter before a judge in Raleigh arguing that as a de facto revenue bill, the lottery legislation triggers the constitutional requirement that the General Assembly consider the bill over several days. That did not happen, hence the Institute says the lottery bill is invalid.
But in addition to responding that the lottery is not, in fact, a revenue bill, the state’s lawyer also seems to be saying to the judge so what if the bill is illegal, it is for a good cause. How else to read Norma Harrell’s statement that kids “are the valuable resource that this court must consider in this case?”
It’s for the children. Screw the law.
