For Immediate Release

June 23, 2008

Down on Her Luck: Gregoire Caught Breaking Gambling Promise

Bellevue, WA... Casino compacts aside, Gov. Christine Gregoire was in more hot water this past week for "under-delivering" on a promise to protect kids from gambling.

This promise involves halting the state lottery from selling tickets featuring pictures of popular candy. Gov. Gregoire talked about the importance of not marketing lottery products to youth in a letter she sent to the state lottery director in February 2006. A Seattle P-I column says that in the letter, Gov. Gregoire expressed her worry about teens becoming involved in gambling at an age when they "do not fully understand" the risks involved. She even instructed her agency:

"We need to be very clear that we will not engage in any marketing strategies directed toward youth. ... I ask that you refrain from using tools that entice those young adults to play."

So how come the state just circulated 1.9 million candy-covered tickets featuring Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Milk Duds around the state in March?

As the columnist suggests, "That the games even exist suggests the governor isn't minding the store." Sounds like the old Gregoire habit of "talking tough" and then not living up to her promises.

Gov. Gregoire doesn't seem to give Washingtonians much credit. To condemn lottery tickets that appeal to children and then continuing to sell them makes as much sense as taking credit for limiting casinos while allowing the largest expansion of gambling in state history. Gregoire's brand of governing is based on an assumption that the public simply won't notice the contradictions in her policies. But we all know what happens when you assume...

That's why we give Christine Gregoire an "F" this week for her failure to control gambling.

-30-