Webb added that retail sales tax collections would decline anywhere from $18.8 million to $22.2 million. That is caused by a decrease in retail sales, which would reduce employment, income and gross domestic product over time, economic research states, he said.<\/p>\n
The other negative issue is the impact it would have on poorer constituents. Bryan Ferrell, with the Stennis Institute, warned the panel that lotteries are usually a tax on poor people because they are the ones who play it more frequently and are the segment of the population that can least afford it.<\/p>\n
Webb agreed with Ferrell and told the legislative group that a lottery could become a societal problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cMississippi is already plagued by people making poor choices, including decisions about their health, family planning and educational training,\u201d he said. “A Mississippi lottery means the state will be investing in and encouraging individuals who have limited incomes to make poor financial decisions.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mississippi lawmakers continued debate on Thursday about costs and benefits of having a lottery, and held a panel to receive input from the casino industry on a topic that has divided the state\u2019s legislature. It was the final of several meetings that began in May by Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn, who opposes the prospect […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":63490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,60,13,61],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Mississippi Gets Serious About Maybe, Possibly, Finally Allowing Lottery<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n