Comments on: Bill takes aim at lottery bonuses

By: catlady

catlady — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:06:34 +0000

It is a state-chartered monopoly that has yet to contribute anything near the percentage of money it is supposed to contribute to education. Until it contributes the 35%, no one should get any bonuses, and the Board should be disolved, due to incompetence. Don’t make the arguement that it is contributing SO MANY dollars. Let it send the correct amount, before any grand payments are made.

And SHAME ON THE LEGISLATURE FOR ALLOWING THIS TO GO ON AND ON!

By: Diego

Diego — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:14:39 +0000

Look before I leap: How much does the lottery Board pay you for your lobbying work? Give it a break.

By: Base

Base — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:45:39 +0000

Another Sonny problem just like transportation,water,budget,unemployment to solve.What has he been doing for eight years.Nothing!

By: Many USG faculty and staff, K-12 teachers and Georgia taxpayers

Many USG faculty and staff, K-12 teachers and Georgia taxpayers — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:41:29 +0000

We want to applaud Senate Majority Whip Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) following his taking steps regarding "Lottery bonuses." We have been trying for over a year to get Governor Perdue and the General Assembly to bring back ethics and accountability to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia for the now reported over $7.1 million in "bonuses" to USG presidents and chancellors (they call them deferred compensations). Both Governor Perdue and the General Assembly have been fully informed of these “bonuses” and both have chosen to take no action. Governor Perdue stated in one of his responses to many emails to his office dated August 10, 2009 that “Georgia's Constitution reserves to the Board of Regents the exclusive authority to make such decisions.” If this is true, why are our legislators not introducing legislation to bring back accountability by the Board of Regents to someone other than themselves? Perhaps the new governor or one of the newly elected legislators next year will have the backbone to do so. The fact that Senate Majority Whip Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) has stepped up to the plate is encouraging. Jim Wall’s Atlanta Unfiltered reported the Board of Regents’ “exclusive authority” (in part below) on October 5, 2009: Link to full story: http://www.atlantaunfiltered.com/2009/10/05/university-execs-deferred-pay-often-hidden-tops-7-million/ Here’s how much university presidents have accumulated or collected in deferred pay since 2004, according to records provided by the University System, tax returns and financial statements. The figures reflect payments or set-asides of state money and, where known, of funds from a school’s associated foundation. $1,820,697 — Wayne Clough, former Georgia Tech president (includes $500,000 cash, a $38,000 car and a split-dollar life insurance policy valued at $750,000 from the foundation) $1,666,639 — Carl Patton, retired Georgia State University president $1,573,606 — Michael Adams, UGA president (includes $786,106 due from the UGA Foundation as of June 2008) $600,000 — David Bell, Macon State president (includes $400,000 due from the Macon State foundation) $495,990 — Thomas Meredith, former University System chancellor (includes $180,990 from the University System of Georgia Foundation) $480,000 — Daniel Rahn, Medical College of Georgia president $262,500 — Erroll B. Davis Jr., University System chancellor $127,000 — Beheruz Sethna, University of West Georgia president $90,000 — Dan Papp, Kennesaw State University foundation $75,000 — Bud Peterson, Georgia Tech president since April 1 $7,191,432 – Total

By: tom

tom — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:47:26 +0000

I agree that more oversight is needed. Giving themselves bonus of such a large amount is sinful. The typical excuse of keeping the most qualified is garbage. I would take the job and forget about the bonuses. I am a retired military officer with plenty of experience in many skill sets. Let me know when to start.

By: Netsol Blogs » Blog Archive » Wall Street executives would be right at home among State Lottery officials

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:54:15 +0000

[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that a Georgia state senator has pre-filed a bill that would force lottery officials to get [...]

By: mike

mike — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:43:58 +0000

Anyone get the feeling LOOK BEFORE I LEAP is a lottery official? Could be stoned!

By: taxpayer

taxpayer — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:10:13 +0000

When the Lottery was approved by voters at a narrow margin, it was with the promise that 35 percent would go towards education. The article states that they are only paying around 24 % to education. They should not be able to use any of the 35% education fund for bonuses.

By: just saying . . .

just saying . . . — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:21:58 +0000

Oh, and Look before I leap, shouldn’t that be “gross” and “for” in your “[p]ulled in in groos sales fro FY 09?” and “budget” in your “[o]perating budet was for same period?”

By: JiMiFLiX!

JiMiFLiX! — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:21:54 +0000

…completely unconscionable! they always use that lame “retention” argument in order to pay themselves fat salaries and bonuses. well, guess what? we’re in a recession. they should be getting a pay cut. and the should be happy about that. cause otherwise they could very well be OUT of a job like so many others. and THEN who would hire time. it’s not like the GA Lottery has a lot of competition. it’s a MONOPOLY, darn it. so that whole retention for the “best and brightest” is as lame as that broken down mule it rode in on…!