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ST. LOUIS NEWS TODAY - Sunday, November 6, 2005
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Missourians Warned of Fraudulent "Sweepstakes Security Commission"
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), November 6, 2005 - Attorney General Jay Nixon and Secretary of State Robin Carnahan urge Missourians to beware of "Sweepstakes Security Commission," an entity purporting to be the primary regulatory and sole licensing body for the sweepstakes industry in the United States.
The company claims to be a non-profit consumer protection agency established by Congress in 1988 and assumes responsibility for cracking down on sweepstakes based crime that has been "targeting primarily seniors for over thirty years."
The company, with an address in Washington, DC, touts the official seal of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as its own in an effort to appear legitimate. However, a representative from the SEC was unaware of any "Sweepstakes Security Commission."
A Missouri resident received correspondence from "American Sweepstakes Network" through "Sweepstakes Security Commission" explaining that he had won over $300,000. Upon further correspondence, the resident was told that he would have to pay over $3,000 to claim his prize money. When the resident called to ask the company to deduct the $3,000 from his $300,000 prize, the company representative became frustrated and hung up on the resident.
"Any time you are required to pay to claim a prize, the alarm bells should be going off in your head," Nixon said in an announcement. "This Missourian was appropriately skeptical of this sweepstakes letter."
"Missourians should be cautious of claims that sound too outlandish," Carnahan said. "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is."
Carnahan and Nixon also advised that if you receive suspicious solicitation, you should contact the Consumer Protection Division or the Securities Division immediately.
The Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General's Office actively pursues leads regarding fraud and misrepresentation in the sale of goods or services.
The Securities Division of the Secretary of State's Office actively pursues leads regarding possible fraudulent companies or transactions in the securities industry.
For more information regarding consumer protection or to file a consumer complaint with the Attorney General's Office, visit the Attorney General's website at www.ago.mo.gov or call the consumer hotline at 1-800-392-8222.
Our Students First-First Class Education for Missouri
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), November 6, 2005 - Gov. Matt Blunt has announced Our Students First-First Class Education for Missouri, an initiative to direct resources where they would most benefit Missouri students.
In a statement, Blunt said, "Missouri taxpayers and parents expect their money to be spent on students, not bureaucracy. This initiative gives voters the chance to put our students first and ensure their tax dollars are being spent where they will directly impact our young people-in the classroom."
Our Students First would ensure that at least 65 cents of every dollar spent in school districts makes its way to the classroom for teachers and kids. To enact this initiative the governor will support legislation to place a proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution on the November 2006 ballot for public vote. The amendment will require at least 65 percent of each school district's expenditures to be spent on direct instruction. It will also include a temporary waiver provision for districts making a measurable attempt to reach the minimum.
Direct instruction includes, among other things, teacher salaries, textbooks, classroom supplies and technology resources, Special Education instruction, arts, music, drama, band, and athletics.
Based on the report from the National Center for Education Statistics only 112 of Missouri's 524 school districts are meeting this benchmark. In our state, an average of only 61 percent of taxpayer funding for education reaches the classroom. Raising that figure to 65 cents on the dollar puts an additional $272 million into Missouri classrooms without a tax increase.
Rep. Scott Muschany and Sen. Rob Mayer will sponsor the legislation in their respective chambers. They and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder joined the governor at select stops today as he visited Springfield, Joplin, Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia to discuss Our Students First-First Class Education for Missouri.
The initiative is another example of Blunt's promise kept to make education his number one budget and policy priority. This school year Missouri kids are reaping the benefits of the $158 million funding increase for public schools Blunt worked with the general assembly to secure. In addition the governor signed an improved formula to fund education that puts students' needs before the taxing capacity of school districts, another promise kept to put Missouri students first.
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