With the future of the California Lottery still under discussion in this dismal budget season, one state legislator is pitching a way to increase lottery sales: gas giveaways.

Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter) said today that he'd like to see lottery officials take a page from the playbook of other states, where lottery prizes now include free gas cards.

"As we look for ways to think 'outside the box' to make the lottery attractive to new players," Florez wrote in a letter to California Lottery director Joan Borucki, "this is one idea that should be given serious and prompt consideration."

Florez was apparently inspired by a story in today's edition of The New York Times chronicling a free gas giveway -- for life-- now being offered as a prize by the Florida Lottery. At least four other states are also now dangling gas giveaways as prizes for lottery winners.