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* Governor Pat Quinn was asked today about Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s comments this week about more borrowing. Rutherford said that if the state tried to borrow to pay off old bills he’d inform the New York bond houses that Illinois was a major credit risk and tell them he was opposed to the plan. Quinn’s response…
“If I were Treasurer Rutherford i’d watch my language. I think that he’s really off base there. We’re not going to be paying any attention to him.”
* The governor also slammed the gaming bill that’s working its way through the House…
Gov. Pat Quinn Friday harshly criticized a gambling expansion proposal that would add 1,200 slot machines as Arlington Park and five new casinos, including in Lake County and Chicago.
“We can’t have a top-heavy proposal in Illinois on gambling that’s going to make us the Las Vegas of the Midwest, the people don’t want that,” Quinn said. “Every time the proposal comes along they keep adding on, adding on.”
Quinn also said he was opposed to any racino at the State Fairgrounds, claiming he wanted to keep the fair a family oriented event.
* Listen to Quinn’s press conference…
*** UPDATE *** The House Executive Committee passed Rep. Lou Lang’s gaming bill on the second try today. As we figured earlier this week, Lang just had to tweak it a bit, including taking out a “labor peace” provision that was opposed by Arlington International. Most likely, Lang had to try to run it with the labor language to appease the labor folks. When that failed, he was free to move it his way.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 27, 11 @ 2:52 pm
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When Pat Quinn is scolding you on state finances, you know you are near rock bottom.
Comment by JL Friday, May 27, 11 @ 2:54 pm
give Pat a day or two…
Comment by OneMan Friday, May 27, 11 @ 2:55 pm
Steady at the helm, Gov.
Comment by perplexed & perterbed Friday, May 27, 11 @ 3:00 pm
He took it pretty easy on Rutherford. He could justifiably been much harsher or mocked him mercilessly.
That’s what I would have done, anyway.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 27, 11 @ 3:01 pm
So on one hand, we have (had?) a law adding 65,000 video poker machines, which is currently held up by the Supreme Court. Now we’re talking about FIVE new casinos?
Seems like the right compromise is to take the 65,000 gaming positions intended to fund the capital bill and divvy them up between O’Hare, Midway, all of the tracks and let the existing casinos expand to absorb the balance. The state could bid these out and let the existing casinos set the market for more gaming positions.
That might solve problems with licensing, get the revenue on-line sooner, and be a modest increase in gaming but still well short of Las Vegas. Chicago could get a piece of the airport take, and the rest goes to the state.
It’s hard to type this, but Quinn is right (today), the voters don’t want five new casinos. I don’t want a Chicago casino, but putting slots and video poker in the airports behind the security wall is a perfect placement to capture out of state dollars.
And there’s no chance this will happen. On the other hand, I don’t think there’s much hope for Lang’s bill this session either, especially on top of the already passed 65,000 video poker machines.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, May 27, 11 @ 3:03 pm
==give Pat a day or two…
I think you meant minute or two
Comment by ArchPundit Friday, May 27, 11 @ 3:24 pm
Rahm will show Quinn who the real boss is
Comment by jammer Friday, May 27, 11 @ 3:57 pm
Take a drive to the Indiana casinos and take a look at the cars in the lots. They are all full of Illinois residents. Keep the gamblers here and allow the 30,000 jobs that rely on the horse racing industry to stay here as well. Expanding gambling is a no brainer. Remeber this. People don’t have to gamble but they have to pay taxes.
Comment by pj Friday, May 27, 11 @ 4:00 pm
Whatever happened to the Family Casino featured in Big Love? Maybe they could move it here? (for those of you who don’t have HBO, it featured an ice cream sundae bar…)
Comment by soccermom Friday, May 27, 11 @ 4:05 pm
When I click on “Quinn’s Response” I am directed to the Daily Herald article, “Quinn criticizes gambling expansion”.
Seems like the incorrect link.
Regarding borrowing. Somehow Illinois has to restrain the excessive spending, tax and borrow way of life without holding vendors hostage. Maybe borrow to pay vendors but also make substantial spending cuts. What about furloughs SB 260. The State is so far in the hole that the idea of a cash cushion or rainy day fund is a foreign concept.
I heard Cook County has 5 furlough days this year. I heard some Universities are doing furloughs.
Comment by Mark Friday, May 27, 11 @ 4:18 pm
With all due respect, Gov. Quinn, we don’t want to be the Greece of the Midwest either.
If you can’t find/make the cuts then let the gambling bill through.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, May 27, 11 @ 4:27 pm
Thank god the tin man has found his heart.
Comment by Palatine Friday, May 27, 11 @ 4:28 pm
Can he just dismiss the way that he did one of this state’s constitutional officers?
Comment by Levois Friday, May 27, 11 @ 4:34 pm
Maybe its just me, but I’m getting this bad feeling about Quinn really starting to feel his oats…Too much power for so little wisdom.
Comment by GMatts Friday, May 27, 11 @ 4:37 pm
Good to see that Pat Quinn has taken our “party of no” mantra as his own.
Comment by Last Republican in Illinois Friday, May 27, 11 @ 4:38 pm
–Can he just dismiss the way that he did one of this state’s constitutional officers? –
In this particular case, I’d say he’s being generous in doing so.
Rutherford’s comments were ridiculous. Even more so as his office has no role whatsoever in the issue he was talking about.
The only possible consequences of his intemperate remarks will be that the market barracudas will use them to demand more juice on Illinois debt — not exactly the envisioned role for the state treasurer in the Constitution.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 27, 11 @ 4:47 pm
Rich, I assume you’ll be working all weekend. Should we check-in for updates?
It sucks to be working over a holiday weekend, but it seems like it rains every Memorial Day, so I don’t think you’ll miss much.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, May 27, 11 @ 4:59 pm
The horse racing folks keep telling everyone, who is gullible enough to believe their fantasies, that there are 30,000 jobs in horse racing. Duchossois and the Arlington folks made up the number. Put slots at the tracks and you won’t get one more person to bet on horse races. It just a matter of time til all the horsies disappear.
Comment by downhereforyears Friday, May 27, 11 @ 5:23 pm
=It just a matter of time til all the horsies disappear.=
You gonna eat them all yourself, or bolt them and then fly them overseas for processing? But on a serious note, how many jobs would you estimate are supported by the racing industry–and what are they?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 27, 11 @ 5:52 pm
OK. Forget the guesstimate then. What services and products are needed to support a racehorse? Or do you believe they’re like teachers, who evaporate into thin air once school’s dismissed only to magically reappear the next morning?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 27, 11 @ 6:00 pm
With Quinns track record of well let’s just call it lying recently he shouldn’t tell anyone to watch what they say. Quinn doesn’t even pay attention to what he says.
Comment by Fed up Friday, May 27, 11 @ 6:07 pm
We are guessing PQ will have a PQ moment and decide to take loot for the Fairgrounds and the families. Big Jim was the last governor to put any money into it and that was after decades of neglect
Our guess is we can put a big blanket over the racino so all the families won’t know they are there!
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, May 27, 11 @ 6:19 pm
Word…
Part of being a state wide office holder is the ability to call press conferences and speak your mind. I hope that this does make it harder for Illinois to borrow money. I love the way the high brows in government always know better than the conventional wisdom. Politics is a simple game when government is run properly. So therefore a simple speech, attacking the biggest problem, gets tomatoes throw at it. Only in Illinois.
Comment by John A Logan Friday, May 27, 11 @ 6:33 pm
Once again Quinn telling Republicans he’s not going to listen to them. He’s a real come together guy, he is.
Comment by Old Milwaukee Friday, May 27, 11 @ 6:35 pm
–Part of being a state wide office holder is the ability to call press conferences and speak your mind. I hope that this does make it harder for Illinois to borrow money.–
He did a little more than that. He said he would actively seek to undermine in the market a bond issue legally approved by the General Assembly. The only successful conclusion of such a course would be an increase of the cost of issuance to the taxpayers.
And his part of being a statewide officer is defined in the Constitution as such:
SECTION 18. TREASURER - DUTIES
The Treasurer, in accordance with law, shall be responsible for the safekeeping and investment of monies and securities deposited with him, and for their disbursement upon order of the Comptroller.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 27, 11 @ 6:44 pm
Thank you, Pkes. I knew “the cavalry” would show up soon!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 27, 11 @ 7:00 pm
Note to Quinn: gambling already occurs at the Grandstand during the State Fair. Does he think all those people show up just to watch the horsies run around the track? Oh wait, it’s Pat Quinn, so maybe he is naive enough to think that.
Comment by ANON Friday, May 27, 11 @ 7:09 pm
Also, the State Fairgrounds is a ghosttown outside of the 10 days in August. Exactly what “family atmosphere” would be ruined by letting horse racing and slot machines happen during some of the other 355 days of the year?
Comment by ANON Friday, May 27, 11 @ 7:11 pm
Oh, Dear. Did the the two posts come from the same location, Rich…or is the horse discussion too OT?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 27, 11 @ 7:12 pm
word,
citing the Illinois constitution is like citing the ingredients from the back of a Alka Seltzer bottle. The Illinois constitution also states that Illinois should have a balanced budget. Maybe Rutherford is the one abiding by the Illinois constitution.
Comment by John A Logan Friday, May 27, 11 @ 7:29 pm
It’s amazing that comments that show facts are deleted.
Comment by Pkes Friday, May 27, 11 @ 7:50 pm
ANON - there are many functions at the fairgrounds year round.
Comment by DRB Friday, May 27, 11 @ 7:54 pm
Pkes, you might want to try again and see if Rich will let it stand as a final FYI on the O/T topic…but as a suggestion, I’d leave the last part off.
This is a great blog. Rich is a great host. And it just take a little time for newcomers to figure out the rules–though there aren’t many.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 27, 11 @ 8:24 pm
DRB, I’ve been on the Fairgrounds at every time of the year. There are occasional events, but those events take up a small fraction of a very large grounds, and most of them are on the other side from the Grandstand. Outside of the fair, the biggest events that happens in the grandstand area are the motorcycle races….and the drinking and party atmosphere that surrounds those races is about as family friendly as any casino.
Comment by ANON Friday, May 27, 11 @ 8:36 pm
I made my point. People just need the facts. Most people have NO IDEA how many jobs are involved in this industry. It is very frustrating when you see comments like “horse racing folks keep telling everyone, who is gullible enough to believe their fantasies, that there are 30,000 jobs in horse racing”. Well it’s the truth, their are that many jobs in horse racing. Why when actual numbers are shown, nobody wants to see it?
Comment by Pkes Friday, May 27, 11 @ 8:46 pm
At least within the context of this blog, I’d bet it’s not that most wouldn’t want to see the numbers or related jobs. It could be that some just aren’t horse people and simply aren’t aware of the care our horses need.
Rich might be shutting down for the night soon. I’m glad you shared your findings with us. Have a great night!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 27, 11 @ 9:01 pm
Thanks for the nice words!
Comment by Pkes Friday, May 27, 11 @ 9:05 pm
It’s extraordinary the constitution is really no more than a holy grail talking point for the Tea Party types to blather on about regarding their devotion, but not something to understand really or to seek actually to follow.
Comment by King Louis XVI Friday, May 27, 11 @ 10:47 pm
—The horse racing folks keep telling everyone, who is gullible enough to believe their fantasies, that there are 30,000 jobs in horse racing. Ducho–ssois and the Arlington folks made up the number. Put slots at the tracks and you won’t get one more person to bet on horse races. It just a matter of time til all the horsies disappear. —-
Just look at Florida and New Jersey. These States gave tracks slots and the industry produced the jobs you belittle.
Comment by downstate hack Friday, May 27, 11 @ 10:58 pm
I have been wondering just who will buy Illinois General Obligation bonds. However , if some investors are foolish enough to do so, why shouldn’t we try to get away with it. Sure we might default some time i the future, but that is the risk an investor takes . Of course if we don’t default on any new bonds , then we will have to pay back the money. Anyway, I don’t think Rutherford should interfere with Gov. Quinn’s scheme to get a hold of some cash.
Comment by ejhickey Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 2:28 am
We liked Dandy Dan better when he was courageously turning in his state owned cars and cell phones — why he had cars and phones to begin with is another matter — this bond and borrowing is just way to complicated for him.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 6:22 am
@downstate hack…..there may be new jobs at those states, but there not horseracing related. It’s a flop for the future of racing but great for the track owners. Horsemen haven’t figured that out yet>
Comment by downhereforyears Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 9:48 am
- downhereforyears
Slots bring more money for bigger purses. Bigger purses bring many more horses and many more horse related jobs.
Comment by Pkes Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 1:35 pm
- downhereforyears
Besides horse related jobs, it also will bring with it casino/gambling related jobs.
Comment by Pkes Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 1:37 pm
30,000 people in this state are employed by the horse industry
Trainers
Drivers
Jockeys
Grooms
Hay farmers
Truckers
Tack salesmen
Vets
blacksmiths
tellers…
Those are the obvious ones
There are many more thousands that rely on the industry for a living. Also our farmland values also are tied into this industry as well. There are a lot of horse farms in the Central and Southern part of the state.
Comment by pj Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 2:32 pm
pj- Thanks!
I have been trying to explain this, but it does not sink in.
Comment by Pkes Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 2:51 pm
Not a bad bill, but it’d be far better if the casino smoking ban exemption bill(exempting each IL casino, until the closest bordering state to that casino bans smoking in its own casinos) was tied in to this bill legalizing the expansion of casinos and gaming. Knowing Gov. Jello, it’s sad to think he’ll likely veto this bill, especially since horse racing tracks(i.e. Arlington Park, Hawthorne, etc.) need the relief of slot machine revenue so badly.
Comment by BoratWanksta Wednesday, Jun 1, 11 @ 5:58 pm