In the wake of criticism over its infrequent meetings, the legislative committee that oversees the Arkansas Lottery Commission has stepped things up, with meetings scheduled for both Tuesday and Thursday of this week.

On the agenda for Tuesday is a review of the Lottery Commission’s proposed contract with Athens, Greece-based Intralot to run drawing games. On Thursday, the committee is scheduled to review a contract with Scientific Games of Alpharetta, Ga., to run instant-win games and a contract with The Communications Group of Little Rock to provide advertising services.

The committee’s Senate chairman, David Johnson, D-Little Rock, said last week the committee was waiting until the contracts were finalized to review them.

Senate President Pro Tem Bob Johnson’s three appointees to the state Lottery Commission wound up on opposite sides of a debate today over salaries.

At the commission’s meeting today, member Derrick Smith proposed a new policy requiring all salary offers of $80,000 or more to be reviewed by a four-member committee of commission members. The motion passed 6-2, with Chairman Ray Thornton and member Patty Shipp casting the two “no” votes.

Smith, Thornton and Shipp were all named to the commission by Johnson, D-Bigelow. Gov. Mike Beebe and House Speaker Robbie Wills, D-Conway, also made three appointments each to the nine-member panel.