* The bizarre boosterism by local newspapers on behalf of their casinos - whether proposed or already existing - continues unabated. For instance, here’s a recent Rockford Register-Star editorial…

More and more people are jumping on the Rockford casino bandwagon.

Last week Loves Park Mayor Darryl Lindberg, Machesney Park village President Tom Strickland and Pecatonica village President Shawn Connors joined Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey and Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen to show their support for bringing a casino to Rockford.

On Friday, the Rockford Casino Coalition met with Gov. Pat Quinn. “We really appreciated that he took as much time as he did to meet with us,” Morrissey said. “I’m hopeful. I wish I could, but I can’t tell you that I got any signs.”

The number of people who have signed the online petition at rrstar.com has risen to 1,341.

Um, wait. The newspaper is sponsoring an online petition drive for a new casino? Really? Yep, here’s the link on the paper’s home page…

If you go to the petition page, you’ll see a handy link to the paper’s casino coverage along with this language…

The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation that would allow for five more casinos in Illinois, including one in Rockford. Gov. Pat Quinn seems reluctant to approve anything other than a Chicago casino. Let the governor know that a Rockford casino is wanted and needed in this city by signing the petition below.

We the undersigned, citizens of the State of Illinois, do hereby petition that you, Gov. Pat Quinn, sign SB0744 to bring a casino to Rockford.

* On the opposite end of the spectrum is the East Peoria Times Courier, which is flacking hard for its local casino…

East Peoria is one of those cities that needs relies on the funding from its casino. With the cost of the Bass Pro Shop and downtown project, the city needs the Par-A-Dice to continue bringing in a consistent amount of tax revenues to the city.

However, the city could seriously be crippled if the bill passes and attendance at the casino drops dramatically. While this issue goes beyond East Peoria to all the casino communities in Illinois, the average state politician doesn’t appear to care.

It would be nice to see politicians do the right thing and put the state’s interests in front of their own.

However, Illinois isn’t a political utopia and it appears to be business as usual with the state’s politics.

So, the “state’s interests” are now whatever is in the best interest of East Peoria? Somehow, I don’t think that works.

* Des Plaines has a fab new casino and the publisher of the local paper dutifully gushed all over the grand opening…

I knew something special was occurring all around me late Monday morning when the little lady, a desperate look on her face, tugged at my hand and asked, “Where’s the 1 and 2 cent slot machines?”

Like Ralph Kramden, I responded, “hum-ah-hum-ah, hum-ah…straight down there, I think.”

A moment later, longtime Des Plaines resident and Maine Township Highway Commissioner Bob Provenzano had a similar experience when an elderly man asked him, “Where’s the crap tables?” “Down there, keep walking,” responded Provenzano. We kind of felt like staff. [Emphasis added.]

Sheesh.

* Meanwhile, Mike Riopell critiqued some of the stories that have popped up in the wake of a Common Cause report on campaign contributions from gaming interests…

But just suggesting gambling interests were pushing for expansion via campaign contributions misses a bunch of the story. Sure, places like Arlington Park gave to candidates and were also pushing for expansion.

But, remember. The biggest opponent of expansion is the existing casino industry in Illinois. They think increased competition from a Chicago casino and slots at Arlington Park could be devastating to their revenues.

Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi, a Joliet Democrat, received more than $57,000 from gambling interests over the 10-year period, according to the study. He voted against expansion. The two casinos in Joliet are staunchly against the idea.

Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia of Aurora got about $39,000 from gambling interests in the last 10 years, including from Penn National Gaming, owners of the Hollywood Casino in Aurora. They, of course, oppose gambling expansion.

That’s what makes gambling interests in Springfield particularly interesting. Lots of industries make big campaign donations, but they also often have common goals.

The stories, particularly in the Tribune, suggested that the contributions were behind the latest expansion plan. On the contrary, many of the contributions were designed to persuade legislators to vote against the plan. The Tribune’s lede…

Nearly three-fourths of the lawmakers who voted on doubling the number of Illinois casinos accepted political contributions in the last 18 months from the gambling industry — a practice several states ban.

Yeah. Except that some of those legislators voted “No.”

* Riopell also noticed this buried nugget in a Peoria Journal Star story about the gaming bill…

“That bill has not arrived at my desk [said Gov. Quinn]. “The Senate is holding it. I’ll analyze it. I was told it will come Aug. 26. I will listen to supporters of the bill and opponents.”

August 26th? Hmm. Riopell’s take…

So what’s the significance of Aug. 26?

Sixty days from Aug. 26 is, approximately, Oct. 26.

Lawmakers are expected to return to Springfield to deal with Quinn’s vetoes on various legislation Oct. 25.

This would give them a chance to act on whatever Quinn does.

They’d have that chance to act whenever Quinn acted on it, unless there is some sort of agreement by the governor to hold the bill until veto session begins. I couldn’t get a decent explanation out of the Senate Democrats yesterday, but I’ll let you know if one comes along.