NATCHEZ — As state leaders consider establishing a state lottery as a possible new revenue source, two local legislators are divided on the issue.

Sen. Bob Dearing, D-Natchez,  and Rep. Sam Mims, R-McComb, responded Monday to recent reports that Gov. Phil Bryant says he would be willing to discuss the issue.

Bryant is the first governor in nearly 30 years to say he might consider a state lottery.

“I am opposed to a state lottery,” Mims said.

Mims said he doesn’t think a state lottery is an appropriate way to address the state’s finances.

“We are working very hard on our state budget to make sure it is fiscally sound,” Mims said. “That is a bigger issue to me than trying to fix a budget hole with a lottery.”

In September, Bryant announced $56.8 million in cuts from the state budget to make up for an accounting error when officials overestimated how much money the state might collect during fiscal 2017.

Bryant cut spending twice last fiscal year because of lagging revenues.

“Our revenue is currently up, but it is not meeting our projections,” Mims said. “It is very important that we are spending our tax dollars wisely.”

Dearing said Monday he would support a state lottery depending on how the money is allocated.

“I have been toying with the idea of suggesting that we use a state lottery to fund Vision 21,” Dearing said.

Vision 21 was passed by the Legislature to upgrade state highways.

Dearing said he made a campaign promise to voters to see that U.S. 98 from Bude to Summit and U.S. 24 from Woodville to I-55 would be four-laned. Funds from a state lottery could help make those projects happen, Dearing said.

Dearing was a state senator in 1990 when Gov. Ray Mabus pushed for a lottery to pay for education reform.

In 1990, Dearing voted for an amendment to the Mississippi constitution that would strike down the state’s lottery ban. To pass, two-thirds of the senate had to vote for the amendment. The measure lost by six votes.

Bryant said he would not want to dedicate the revenue from a lottery to specific areas such as public education. In his words, “Our children’s future should not be left to a game of chance.”

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said his decision would depend on whether a lottery would bring in new money or take money from sales taxes and casinos.

Mims said gaming is already established and creates other economic development opportunities for the state, including the creation of many jobs.

“The gaming industry is here to stay. That is an industry to me,” Mims said. “The lottery is not.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.