NC appeals court upholds procedure for passing NC lottery

RALEIGH (AP) — A state appeals court has ruled that the Legislature used a correct procedure when it approved North Carolina’s lottery in 2005.

In a split decision, the Court of Appeals rejected Tuesday the arguments of taxpayers and others who sued the state over how the lottery was approved.

The plaintiffs argued the lottery bill generates revenue for the state, so the House and Senate each should have been forced to vote on it over two separate days.

Two of the three judges on the court disagreed, saying the bill didn’t meet the requirements of a revenue bill as defined by the state constitution.

One of the judges — Ann Marie Calabria — sided with the plaintiffs. That means the state Supreme Court likely will hear the case.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)