"It's kind of scary when you think about it, but "enhancing" education in Florida depends on the old adage that there's a sucker born every minute. But that may not much longer be true.

For years the "enhancement" of public schools, universities and community colleges has rested on the sale of lottery tickets. But it turns out that the urge to gamble isn't eternal as assumed. Because of stagnant sales, officials say the state will have $48 million less in enhancement funds this year than anticipated. Ticket sales in July alone were $21 million less than in the previous July.

"Gambling is risky, it's stagnant. It's unpredictable," incoming House Speaker Ray Sansom, R-Destin, allowed this week, "and it's not the best way to balance the budget."

Somebody ought to tell Gov. Charlie Crist that. In his zeal to make our taxes "drop like a rock," Crist would have the state depend even more on gambling revenues, and not just from the lottery. Crist cut a deal with the Seminole Tribe to allow casino-style gambling, with the state getting a hefty share of the take, before the Florida courts shot down his authority to do so without legislative approval. "

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Editorial: The saturation point (The Gainesville Sun 9/11)