Rep. Earl Jones of Greensboro is my new hero. He was the only member of the House to vote against a silly bill yesterday to ban a sweepstakes game that has people go online to play a game to find out what they’ve won. From News & Record reporter Mark Binker’s blog:
Jones has cut against the grain at the General Assembly since getting elected up here. Of banning video poker, he said in 2006:
“Just to ban it straight out when we just passed the lottery is kind of hypocritical.”
and
“I don’t see any difference between video poker and the lottery,” said Rep. Earl Jones , a Greensboro Democrat.
Of payday lending, another industry the state has outlawed, he said in 2005:
State Rep. Earl Jones , D-Guilford, said that payday lending fills a financial services gap not covered by banks.
“If they’re shut down, there will be no mechanism that will develop to meet that need,” Jones said.
And remember, Jones is the guy who filed medical marijuana and the stem cell bill, which both provoked some controversy.
“I think people really just want to be left alone,? Jones says. Hallelujah.
