The Republican gubernatorial candidate says Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s plan to sell or lease the lottery is a scam. Judy Baar Topinka says the governor’s plan won’t solve the education funding problem in the state.

“What I would suggest is first of all, [Blagojevich] should have vetoed $500 million worth of pork projects. Then you’d have some real solid money for education. Second of all, if the lottery is not doing as well as it should be, then hire a new staff and make it work because we should be making that money without hiring a middle man,” she said.

Topinka says she will announce her own plan to fund state education some time this summer.