Legislature poised to shield lottery winners names
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PHOENIX -- The Arizona Senate has given initial approval to a bill allowing lottery winners to keep their anonymity. Monday's voice vote leaves the legislation one vote away from final legislative passage.
The Republican-controlled Senate turned back an effort by Democratic Sen. Steve Gallardo to withhold winners' names for just 10 days. He says the Arizona Lottery could lose the public's trust if winners remain secret.
The bill by Rep. John Kavanagh was prompted by the release of a Fountain Hills man's name after he won half of a $587.5 million Powerball jackpot in November.
Kavanagh says players shouldn't face safety risks because they're lucky enough to win big.
The House passed the bill last month on a 51-8 vote. A final Senate vote will send the bill to Gov. Jan Brewer.
