News-Record.com

Yesterday, Mark Binker reported that state lottery director Tom Shaheen intends to get the games up and running by April 5.

I'll bet he does. He'll get a $50,000 bonus if he achieves that deadline.

Bonuses are common for state lottery directors.

But why? Why not other state employees?

Should legislative leaders Jim Black and Marc Basnight get $50,000 bonuses if the General Assembly meets the annual budget deadline and promptly adjourns? After all, it costs taxpayers a lot of money when the legislative session drags on and on. Instead of paying lawmakers to stay in Raleigh, why don't we pay them to go home?

How about bonuses for road construction managers who finish a job on time? How much do lengthy delays end up costing the taxpayers? We could save a lot of money by paying a one-time bonus to supervisors who hurry it up.

Or maybe you think this is a bad idea. We pay state employees to do a good job and to meet reasonable deadlines. Why should we pay them bonuses just for doing what they're hired to do in the first place?

I think that, too.

The lottery director's salary is $235,000 a year. That's about a 100 grand more than we pay the governor, chief justice and other top state officials. And he needs a $50,000 bonus to make a deadline?

Addendum: Holy smokes, look at this.

I wonder how many of these people will make campaign contributions to various pro-lottery politicians.