An Ohio state representative is trying to block the state's $5 million vaccine lottery

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An Ohio state representative is trying to block the state's $5 million vaccine lottery
Dado Ruvic/Reuters
  • An Ohio state lawmaker says she'll try to block the state's vaccine lottery.
  • GOP Rep. Jena Powell told CNN's "New Day" on Monday that the lottery is a "gross misuse" of taxpayer money.
  • The lottery will award $1 million jackpots to 5 Ohio residents who get vaccinated.
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A local Ohio representative says she's drafting a bill that would block the state's COVID-19 vaccine lottery.

Republican State Rep. Jena Powell told CNN's "New Day" on Monday that the lottery - which will offer five vaccinated Ohioans $1 million jackpots - is a "gross misuse of taxpayer dollars."

"It feels like a bribe to Ohioans," she said. "[They] don't want gimmicky programs."

Powell told FOX 19 on Saturday that the money would be better used to help small businesses and other COVID-19 relief.

"I think some of the areas that are struggling are small businesses, so we give a small percentage to the relief fund or children," she said. "I know there's a lot of mental health issues going around with children, so those would be two of the areas that we've really pinpointed that we could use that federal funding for."

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Ohio is one of several states - including New York and Maryland -offering lottery tickets for those who get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

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