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Following first is the original letter that was sent to Tony Sanchez by a fellow lottery player followed by Tony Sanchez' reply:

To: info@tonysanchez.com
Sent: Saturday, August 10, 2002 3:55 PM
Subject: Texas lottery

Dear Mr. Sanchez,

When I voted for the state lottery back in November 1991, I did so believing that the games would be fair. I also believed that players would have a voice.

Well, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to conclude that the games are designed to provide maximum amount of money for politicians to spend, and that players have little or no voice.

The people running the lottery know that, for the most part, players are sheep waiting to be fleeced. They also know that there isn't one politician who will question the means and methods being used to get players to empty their pockets into the feeding trough.

One example of how the lottery plans to fleece the sheep in a grand way in future can be found in the minutes of the July meeting of the Texas Lottery Commission. While no decision was made, its clear that the current Lotto game, where players pick 6 from 54 numbers, will soon be discarded in favor of a multi-level lottery game.

This new game, where players would pick 5 from 42 numbers and one number from a field of 42 numbers, guarantees that players will invest and LOSE many millions of dollars to build a jackpot that will probably be won by one person or a group.

Personally, I felt betrayed as I read the grand plan. I wanted to yell out that Texas is not a gambling casino. I was offended that not one person raised the question of whether or not Texans want and can afford such a game.

Texas faces a budget problem. There is no doubt that Governor Perry and many politicians are working behind the scenes to increase lottery profits, by whatever means are possible, and with total disregard to negative impact on the players.

And where do you stand on this issue, Mr. Sanchez? Should Texas have a lottery designed to fleece the sheep? Should a handful of people motivated by greed have the power to change our main lotto games?

Thousands of players quit the lottery when the current lotto game was instituted. Thousands more will quit when a multi-level game is adopted.

It's time for someone to step forward and take action to bring the TLC under control and put a cap on lottery profits. The state shouldn't rip off its citizens simply because it can.

Are you that man?

Robert B

August 13, 2002
From Robert B.

Here is T. Sanchez reply to the email I sent him last week. I plan to send a similar message to Gov Perry. Also, I'm drafting a letter to editor of Standard-Times. Will send you copy of both. RB

Tony Sanchez' Reply ...

----- Original Message -----
From: Jessica Rowland
To: (deleted name and address)
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 4:00 PM
Subject: RE: Tony Sanchez for Governor Campaign answer to your question

Thank you for taking the time to write into the campaign!

Tony does not plan to exploit lotto players, instead he plans to deal with the $5 million dollar budget deficit the following way:

Governor Rick Perry maintains that there are no savings to be gained by scrubbing the budget. He is certainly the only American to think that there is no wasteful government spending. Additionally, he has chosen to leave our tax dollars on the table in Washington by turning away available federal funds. Rick Perry's veto of a 2001 Medicaid reform bill passed by the legislature cost Texas $400 million in federal dollars. These federal tax dollars are being used to fund other state's programs. If elected, Tony Sanchez will not squander our limited resources and pass up opportunities to pull down federal dollars.

We hope that you will vote for in support of Tony's candidacy and elect him Governor so that together we can address these vital issues in a positive way.

Thank you for your interest,

Tony Sanchez for Governor Campaign

Now folks, here is a player who is putting his actions where his mouth is. If ALL of you would sit down and write a few letters, we would be heard!

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