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.

The state lottery should move a step closer to becoming a reality next week, House Speaker Robbie Wills advises.

Wills says he is “shooting for Tuesday” to name his three appointments to the nine-member lottery commission.

The governor, the House speaker and the Senate president pro tem each get to make three appointments to the commission. Sen. Bob Johnson announced his appointments Wednesday, the same day Gov. Mike Beebe signed legislation to create the commission.

Johnson named former congressman, university president and state Supreme Court justice Ray Thornton to a six-year term, businesswoman Patty L. Shipp of Morrilton to a four-year term and Little Rock lawyer Derrick W. Smith to a two-year term.

A spokseman for Gov. Mike Beebe said he did not know when Beebe would announce his appointments.