Ever wonder why some things happen?

[happybratpack]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/20/judd.lottery/index.html

• Millionaire senator just got richer, thanks to Powerball

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Judd Gregg won $853,492 from the Powerball lottery after matching five of six numbers in Wednesday's drawing, adding to his already sizable wealth.

"Even senators can be lucky," he told reporters outside the D.C. Lottery claims center, where he picked up his check.

The Republican from New Hampshire -- who chairs the Budget Committee and who has a reputation as a strict fiscal conservative -- said his wife is currently remodeling their home and already has plans for the new money.

"She's already told me, 'Don't spend it. I've already got plans.'"

He said he bought about $20 of tickets on Monday at a D.C. Citgo gas station as he headed from Baltimore to Washington for a Senate vote.

"I don't plan to quit my job," he said with a smile.

He will owe 25 percent in federal taxes on the $853,492. New Hampshire doesn't have state income taxes and so he will get to keep the rest.

Gregg already is a millionaire, according to personal financial records that senators are required to file annually.

His latest filing, which documents his financial records for the calendar year of 2004, shows that Gregg has assets between $2,697,000 and $9,430,000, mostly in an extensive stock and real estate portfolio.

After hearing the lottery news, Sen. Kent Conrad, D-North Dakota, the top Democrat on the Budget Committee, quipped the money should be used to pay down the federal deficit.

"We'll take it all," he said.

Gregg was one of 49 winners of the runner-up cash award in a drawing that also earned one lucky winner from Oregon $340 million.

The Gregg family was in the news for less happy reasons two years ago when two men entered their McLean, Virginia, home and abducted Gregg's wife, Kathleen. She was driven to a nearby ATM where she gave the knife-wielding robbers money before escaping from them

 

[ChrisnSteph]

That figures!

 

[GIOny]

That is probally chump change to him! Hopefully a man in his position will donate some of it to a worthy cause. The old saying really holds true "the rich get rich and the poor get poorer"

 

[Tinkim]

They did mention something about him making a charitable contribution but I couldn't help but think the same thing when I saw our senator on the local news holding a check for $850,000+. I know lots of people who bought Powerball tickets who really could have used that money.

 

[Bob Slydell]

He's allowed to play the lottery just like anyone else. I didn't think there was an income limit to buying a lottery ticket.

 

[Poohgirl]

Although I do find this a bit annoying because he has no need...I am happy with the fact that it was reported up here that he will be sending a chunk "home" to local charities. I guess that's worth something.

 

[Deb in IA]

Have to agree with Bob.

Lottery winners are not determined by "need" -- it's not a scholarship.

And if he kept it all himself, and didn't donate to charity, hookairs??

 

[cats7494]

I think we each have a personal responsiblity to help others - so in winning this lottery - I am glad to hear from Poohgirl that he is giving some to charity.

(by the way, I care)

 

[Charade]

That is probally chump change to him! Hopefully a man in his position will donate some of it to a worthy cause. The old saying really holds true "the rich get rich and the poor get poorer"

Really? So no poor person has ever become rich (or more well off than poor), only poorer?

 

[Poohgirl]

Have to agree with Bob.

Lottery winners are not determined by "need" -- it's not a scholarship.

And if he kept it all himself, and didn't donate to charity, hookairs??

No, you're right but it is nice to see people that could really use the money win. Like a group of 15 cafeteria workers splitting a 100 million pot. I don't know 'feel good' stories. Not a millionaire winning almost a million, not as good...

 

[Tinks]

I don't understand how anyone can be upset because he paid his money for his tickets and happened to win. He had the same chance that anyone who played the lottery that night had. He got lucky....that makes you mad???

It doesn't matter if he had $1 to his name or $1 million. Why do you grudge him his fair and square lottery win??

Good grief!

 

[Charade]

He's allowed to play the lottery just like anyone else. I didn't think there was an income limit to buying a lottery ticket.

There isn't Bob, however, someone commented the other day here on the DIS that 340 million was too much for one person to win . Really???

And they hoped that it was a pooled ticket purchase.

Sorta like "excess profits". Who gets to define "excess" and "too much"?

 

[Poohgirl]

Hopefully a man in his position will donate some of it to a worthy cause.

BTW we have had some terrible flooding in the western part of our state. I believe the story said that the gift of aide was going there.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Really? So no poor person has ever become rich (or more well off than poor), only poorer?

Oh silly Charade....don't you know that it is only acceptable for poor people living in the trailer parks to win the lottery....I mean really....how DARE a well-off Senator play his money and WIN...ugh, and he is a rebuplican to boot!

 

[Charade]

Oh silly Charade....don't you know that it is only acceptable for poor people living in the trailer parks to win the lottery....I mean really....how DARE a well-off Senator play his money and WIN...ugh, and he is a rebuplican to boot!

 

[cats7494]

I don't understand how anyone can be upset because he paid his money for his tickets and happened to win. He had the same chance that anyone who played the lottery that night had. He got lucky....that makes you mad???

It doesn't matter if he had $1 to his name or $1 million. Why do you grudge him his fair and square lottery win??

Good grief!

No, it does not make me mad...
But, as I said -I hope he does share some of it. I know if I won I would certainly give much away...
I donate regularly to charities and feel we all should as we are able.

 

[Deb in IA]

So, how much should THIS guy have to give up?

$340 Million Powerball Winner Steps Forward
Self-Employed Man and Relatives Plan to Buy Sports Car and Vacation, but Invest Bulk of Winnings

Oct. 21, 2005 — Steve West of Medford, Ore., is a wealthy, wealthy man.

West, a self-employed businessman, confirmed to ABC News that he and three other family members are the owners of the winning Powerball ticket worth $340 million.


"I still don't really believe that it's true," West told ABC News Radio. "It just really hasn't sunk in well. I'm told by everybody else that this is a life-changing situation, and I didn't plan on wanting to change that much. I mean, the money always sounded great, but I didn't want to change my lifestyle to go along with it."

West discovered he'd won when family members checked the numbers online.

"We didn't watch the Powerball drawing," he said. "We got a call … from the other family members saying, 'I can't believe it, some of these numbers are matching.' And then she (a relative) started saying, 'All these numbers are matching.' And we thought, 'Wow.'"

"She couldn't believe they were matching, and she could hardly talk," West said. "She was just so panicked. And my wife was talking to her. And it was pandemonium — I guess was the way to say it."


The family had bought $40 worth of tickets, West said.

"We went over and looked at the ticket, verified that it's a correct ticket … and just haven't slept well the last two nights," he said.

Talk about luck: It was the first time West ever played Powerball. He said he won't do anything crazy with the money, though.

"Of course, everybody dreams of winning the lottery, but I've never really made plans of what I would buy, because it never went that in-depth," he said.

"We're talking to our financial planner Tuesday and we're probably going to invest all of it — or 99 percent of it," he added. "That'll still leave us a good small amount that we can take a vacation or buy some kind of a sports car."

For now, West will keep his day job, which he is refusing to disclose.

"I'm self-employed, and I still have been out to work yesterday," he said, "and I'm still going out today."

 

[AllyandJack]

Weren't the taxes on it over $200,000?

I don't like the idea that people should be forced to give to charity. I mean, I give money to charities I believe in, but that's me and that's a decision DH and I choose to make in certain instances. I would never insist that someone else give up their money....if he wanted to take it all and buy a house in the Caymans, good for him.

I'm happy for that business owner though. I like to see people like that win.

 

[Deb in IA]

I don't like the idea that people should be forced to give to charity. I mean, I give money to charities I believe in, but that's me and that's a decision DH and I choose to make in certain instances. I would never insist that someone else give up their money....if he wanted to take it all and buy a house in the Caymans, good for him.

 

[hugsquared]

I'm sorry, I thought I sent out that memo but I guess I didn't.
"ATTENTION: Life is not fair"
He played the numbers, he bought the tickets, he won. He doesn't owe anyone an explination as to what he will or won't do with the money. Its his. Just like if the man who won it was only worth $1.00 He get's it without question or obligation.