Though it's hardly surprising that the Waterbury Republican-American would have harsh words for state Sen. Tom Colapietro, it's a little odd to see an editorial there assailing the Bristol Democrat for showing "callousness toward the downtrodden."
In this editorial, the paper blasts Colapietro for wanting to impose a "sucker tax" with a special lottery aimed at pumping up gambling revenues for the state.
The senator's bill, which is now in committee, would "require the Division of Special Revenue to set a prize payout of 65 percent or more for one or more special lotteries to be offered by the Connecticut Lottery Corp." in order "to increase ticket sales and increase state revenue."
The Waterbury paper's editorial board see the lottery as a way of fleecing the poor -- which is pretty much true -- by snatching money from those who can't afford to lose it.
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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
