Illinois Casino Expansion Bill Remains At Standstill, May Not Come To Vote In Fall Session

With the installation of almost 40,000 new gaming positions potentially at stake statewide, the casino expansion bill which languished in legislative purgatory all summer remains, essentially, at a standstill in the midst of the Springfield veto session.

On Wednesday, gambling expansion supporters, led by State Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan) introduced a new bill they said should take care of the bulk of Governor Pat Quinn's many concerns with the expansion.

While its proponents say the new bill, Senate Bill 747, increases oversight, reduces the number of gaming positions and offers more funding for education, the governor's office criticized Link's legislation as a "charade" and "not a legitimate proposal," the Chicago News Cooperative reports. The governor's plan for gaming expansion cut slot machines proposed for horse racing tracks and O'Hare and Midway International airports, among other tweaks.

"We laid out a framework for gambling expansion," Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson told the News Cooperative. "You don't plop it in a bill and call it a day without the participation of the governor's office."

Quinn's consistent opposition to the gaming expansion bill drew the criticism of State Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, who told the State Journal-Register that he was curious how "the governor who has lamented the lack of revenue would so flippantly turn his back on this revenue." Per the Daily Herald, Murphy said Quinn has exhibited a "failure of leadership" with how the governor has handled the ongoing gambling debate.

The original gaming legislation, Senate Bill 744, paved the way for five new Illinois casinos to be built, including one in downtown Chicago, for which Mayor Rahm Emanuel has expressed his support as both a revenue and job generator. The measure was put on a legislative hold by Senate President John Cullerton (D), a supporter of the expansion, after it was narrowly approved by the state General Assembly this spring, reportedly because he feared the governor's veto.

Cullerton reportedly met with Quinn to discuss the matter in a private setting this week. Meanwhile, state Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi, D-Joliet, told the Chicago Sun-Times that the gambling bill is off the table for discussion during the rest of this week's session and that "there's a chance" the issue may not be taken up at all during the state legislature's next short session, which begins Nov. 8.

Photo by Rob Boudon via Flickr.

Comments

[Mariel Yohe]

11:56 AM on 10/31/2011

As the state legislature and Governor Quinn work out logistics of a gaming expansion bill, it is important to keep in mind other opportunities exist for Illinois communities to generate revenue. One that has already passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support as part of the 2009 capital plan is the Video Gaming Act. It will spur local revenue, jobs and investment. Under the act, municipalities with video gaming will receive five percent tax revenue that would remain under local control to help fund projects from the Illinois Capital plan. To learn more about the capital plan and its impact, please visit www.BacktoWorkIllinois.com

[El Chingaso]

06:19 PM on 10/30/2011

"While its proponents say the new bill, Senate Bill 747, increases oversight, reduces the number of gaming positions and offers more funding for education [...]."

More dough for failing education? Oh, sure, man. More emotional "it's for the children" cr*pola.

That's the last thing Illinois needs. How about paying down some of the state government's "massive" debts, thanks to 30-plus years of liberal decadence, rampant extortion, and union corruption. Better start there. Remember, first things first...even if it's painful reality.

[Jazzeerun]

10:06 PM on 10/28/2011

Question: Are these the only types of jobs we're going to create in America - casinos? When Chicago approves casino gambling, what is NW Indiana (East Chicago, Whiting, Gary, Hammond, etc.) going to look like?

My vision: Liquor stores on every corner, empty buildings full of pigeons and disheveled crackheads and winos hustlin' and begg'n. Heck!. It looks llike that now!

[annadams]

10:13 PM on 10/28/2011

My friend was about a block away from driving into the entrance of the Horseshoe Casino and two gang members that were walking to the casino entrance were shot and killed. It was a drive-by shooting. NW Indiana has always been a dump - with and without casinos. At least now they have some extra money to buy Policemen.

[annadams]

09:52 PM on 10/28/2011

So, why does Governor Quinn not want to take money from all over the world as revenue for Chicago? Yearly, the 1,300 slot machines at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas yielded approximately $40.9 million in revenue. Quinn refuses slots at O'hare but he is for local casinos instead. So, instead of generating money from other people who live in other states and other countries, Quinn wants local people to blow their own money so they lose their homes, money for food, etc. He also wants to increase local crime. Yes, that is what happens when you have local people going to local casinos in the city. Slots at O'Hare is a dream come true for building revenue in the State. Too bad Quinn is too much of an idiot to see that. I could care less about race track slots, but slots at O'Hare is something smart people would consider.

[MWA1111]

12:08 PM on 10/29/2011

Completely agree with you. I laugh at politicians that look at casinos catering to their constituents is a method of revenue generation. I guess all the money raised can go back to supporting those same constituents that now need support due to losing their income.

If they're targeting other people's money, put it in O'Hare to grab cash from those that have "been to Chicago" without ever stepping foot out of ORD or MDW for that matter. Also, put some down by McCormick to grab some from out-of-towners.