Here we go again
Thursday, May 19, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Lou Lang will introduce a bill as early as today to expand gaming here…
State Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, says he hopes to file a blll as soon as Thursday that would authorize a city casino and other major gambling expansion.
“There will be a gaming bill. I will be introducing it,” Mr. Lang said. “I’m still making some tweaks. I hope to have those done and a bill introduced in a day or two.”
Mr. Lang said his proposal “will resemble” a bill that passed the Senate last year but which he failed to call for final action in the House.
That measure called for slot machines at horse-racing tracks, more gambling positions at existing casinos, and five new casinos, one of them in the city.
And so it begins… Again. What is this, Lou’s 90th gaming bill? I kid. It’s only been 85. However, he might actually have a shot this year…
Facing a budget deficit in the range of $500-700 million, [Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel] said the gaming revenue could certainly be helpful, if it’s done right.
“I have spoken to the leaders of both chambers, both parties, and the governor about the essentialness for a Chicago-owned casino here, as a way of both economic activity and revenue source,” Emanuel said.
The new mayor declined to offer a prediction on whether it can happen during the final weeks of this legislative session, noting that casino legislation in the past has fallen apart.
“One issue can be alive a minute, something else can happen,” Emanuel said of the legislative process. “So if I say something today - even now - by the time I get upstairs, it can be a different note.”
Goodness knows, the state could use the cash (the money will be used for the capital bill, but that cash would mean less GRF will have to be tapped).
* But there will be no magic beans moment for the state budget this year via the Thomson prison sale…
Gov. Pat Quinn and President Barack Obama’s administration might have struck a deal on a price for the empty Thomson prison, but Illinois shouldn’t expect a check anytime soon.
The agreed upon price of $165 million for the Thomson Correctional Center in the northern corner of the state is less than its appraised value of $220 million, state lawmakers confirmed Wednesday.
However, Rich Carter, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-16th District, said the Illinois congressman has not heard anything about a sale.
“The federal government doesn’t have any money,” Carter said. “There may be an agreement, but there cannot be a sale without any money to buy the prison.”
State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, said Illinois needs the money sooner, rather than later.
“Maybe we won’t have to cut some kid’s program, because right now we are in the process of cutting $2.4 billion out of our budget,” Jacobs said. “… And maybe this will save a few programs that we won’t have to cut out.” […]
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is working with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to reprogram federal funding to turn Thomson into a federal maximum security prison.
“He hopes this can be done as soon as possible so that the purchase can move forward and bring with it the jobs and economic development so important to the region’s future,” Durbin’s spokeswoman Christina Mulka said in an email.
Just what we need, more great news. Sheesh.
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 7:52 am:
–“The federal government doesn’t have any money,” Carter said. “There may be an agreement, but there cannot be a sale without any money to buy the prison.”–
The federal government has a lot of money and they borrow a whole lot more. Hopefully, Rep. Manzullo, now that he’s in the majority, will work with Durbin to expedite the deal.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 7:56 am:
==“Maybe we won’t have to cut some kid’s program, because right now we are in the process of cutting $2.4 billion out of our budget,” Jacobs said. “… And maybe this will save a few programs that we won’t have to cut out.” […]==
When the sale goes through, the money should go to the capital plan or to pay off some overdue bills. One time revenues should not be put into the operating budget. That’s the kind of thing that has gotten the state (and Chicago) into deeper budget troubles.
- Palatine - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 8:27 am:
Raising revenue by increasing gambling is akin to selling the skyway and the meter boxes. Hopefully it won’t pass. It will not be good for the long term.
- Fed up - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 8:44 am:
I agree that their are social costs to gambling yet I think it would be a good move to open a casino in Chicago hopefully put some slots at the airports.
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 9:07 am:
–hopefully put some slots at the airports. –
That never makes it into the mix for some reason.
A couple of minutes on the google and you’ll discover:
McCarran International in Las Vegas has 22 million passengers a year. The airport has 1,200 slot machines that generate about $41 million in profit a year.
O’Hare and Midway combined have more than double the passengers at 46 million. Not only that, but unlike Las Vegas, Chicago’s airports are international and national hubs, with millions of those passengers waiting on connecting flights.
Those connecting passengers have time to kill and money to lose — much of it out-of-state money, at that.
Based on the Las Vegas experience, $100 million a year clear from O’Hare and Midway machines doesn’t seem out of the question. What’s the problem?
- Fed up - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 9:22 am:
Good work Wordslinger.
Slots at the airports will generate a lot of money much coming from non residents. Ohare expansion and other transportation projects could get a major revenue source by setting aside some revenue from ohare & midway slots. Hopefully something finally gets resolved.
- bored now - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 9:52 am:
illinois is absolutely the worst at trying to capture out-of-state dollars. i guess this is a result of the “everything outside of illinois doesn’t matter” thinking here. there is a lot that we could do to get other people’s money, but we just don’t care about that…
- Cincinnatus - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 10:24 am:
The Federal Government is BORROWING $4,000,000,000 every day. That’s $166,666,666.67 every hour, $2,777,777.78 every minute, $46,296.30 every second. Every day. This is only the borrowed amount, the spending is about double that.
With Republicans in charge in DC, and the deficit on the front burner, I wouldn’t bet the ranch the appropriators in the House authorize the spending.
- Because I say so - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 10:31 am:
I would imagine the all powerful Rosemont Casino folks would be opposed to slots at O’Hare.
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 10:35 am:
–all powerful Rosemont Casino folks would be opposed to slots at O’Hare.–
If they were all-powerful, there would have been a casino in Rosemont a long time ago.
- dupage dan - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 10:55 am:
Frankly, a casino at the airport makes alot of sense to me. Capturing dollars from outside Illinois should be the key here. Folks could be encouraged to fly in - gamble at the airport - and then get out.
- Mariel - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 11:42 am:
While the state legislature debates another gambling expansion bill, the General Assembly should look to other investment programs that have already passed to help spur economic activity in Illinois. While many proposals have lacked the political support needed to pass, the Video Gaming Act passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support. The VGA could generate over $37 million annually for the City of Chicago alone while also supplying funds for significant city capital projects, including improvements to Chicago Public Schools, Chicago transit and roads. To learn more about the capital plan and its impact, please visit www.BacktoWorkIllinois.com.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 11:54 am:
===The Federal Government is BORROWING $4,000,000,000 every day.===
I know, right? Most of the borrowed money is being spent rebuilding Iraq and continuing the fight in Afghanistan. $10 billion per month in Afghanistan alone, just from the Pentagon. You could probably double that with the State Dept. spending.
We’re building schools, roads and hospitals in Afghanistan, so we need to cut spending on schools, roads and prisons here.
The Federal debt didn’t acrue overnight, why do the House Republicans and the Tea Party insist we eliminate it overnight?
- Cincinnatus - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 11:57 am:
47th,
i wasn’t pro or con this sale, just pointing out the numbers at the Federal level may not support a whole lot of optimism about the sale of the prison to the Feds.
Maybe we could transfer all the prisoners from that prison where a third of the guards are on WC to the new prison so the guards won’t have to use heavy keys. Cha-ching, two birds, one stone!
- Ghost - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 12:51 pm:
Why are we giving racing track owners special rights to run mini casino’s.
How about this, If horse racing is dead let it die. If you want to have more casino’s, then approve more licenses and let people compete for them. it gives a way unfair advatage to track oweners to let them have mini casino’s at the tracks just because they have a failing buisness.
My yard buisness is failing too, can I run slot positions out of my truck? lets give slots to all failing business in IL, after all, it wouldnt be fair if we used some kind o a license system and required the wealthy track owners tohave to bid and compete for those licesnes.
Heck its not like the State could use the extra reveneue by creating licenses and requiring the track owners to bid on the, lets just give them away.
Slots make more sense at the airport nayway. Instead of trying to tap mostly desperate locals for money lets tap travelers passing through.
- Pkes - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 1:51 pm:
The the racing industry in Illinois going under involves billions of dollars and jobs that are involved. IT IS NOT JUST RACE TRACK OWNERS.
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 2:44 pm:
–The the racing industry in Illinois going under involves billions of dollars and jobs that are involved. IT IS NOT JUST RACE TRACK OWNERS.–
If the tracks in Illinois are a multi-billion dollar industry, then they might want to invest a few million in advertising and promotion. Because they’re doing oogots now, except looking for another state bailout.
- Mark - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 3:25 pm:
I am for slots at horse tracks because many horses are leaving IL to race at tracks in other states that do allow slots and thus higher purses.
Slots at horse tracks is an expansion of gambling at an existing gambling facility. I don’t see slots only as mini casinos. I see nothing wrong with saving the existing horse tracks. I am for saving the existing horse tracks and I believe slots are necessary to do that. Letting them close will create an eyesore.
I am against adding any more casinos in IL, especially before Des Plaines is open. It’s pretty close to O’Hare and Chicago.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 3:37 pm:
Wordslinger- ive deen saying slots at the airports are no-brainers for years. I think they havent happened because no one can pass a stand alone bill, and because there is no licenseholder to benefit
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 3:48 pm:
–ive deen saying slots at the airports are no-brainers for years. I think they havent happened because no one can pass a stand alone bill, and because there is no licenseholder to benefit–
Auction it off. McCarran International takes in $41 million a year on slots. The private operators take in a lot more.
- Pkes - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 3:52 pm:
This is hardly a bailout. It is called a level playing field. Being able to compete with the other states tracks. The State does not pay for this, the tracks do. The tracks have license fees etc. to pay to the state.
- Doug Dobmeyer - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 5:25 pm:
It would be nice and fair if when talking about gambling both sides are presented. Here’s the picture - two suburban legislators who get mucho dollars from the tracks and casinos work w/the neophyte mayor to foist a casino on Chicago where the citizens have never been asked in a referendum if they want that life changing change. Its more than just the money. There are alternatives such as:
• A very small tax on stock trading and derivative products. This would have no effect on costs, but would yield millions because of the volume of business. This tax would be ripe for revenue sharing;
• A city income tax of one percent on money earned in Chicago above $30,000 annually would bring in millions to city tax coffers;
• The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability suggested taxing of retirement funds above a certain amount. This would be akin to what the federal government does with Social Security income now; and
• Blending of local property taxes above the average cost per student to help poorer school districts in the state. An example would be Winnetka property taxes would assist Ford Heights in providing better education.
Doug Dobmeyer
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 5:38 pm:
Doug, do you think any of your suggestions have a snowball’s chance with anyone? Based on what?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 6:51 pm:
@Pkes -
Given the decline in horseracing attendance and the rise of NASCAR, I think it makes more sense to legalize betting on autoracing and put the slots at auto race tracks instead.
- Pkes - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 7:16 pm:
Does Nascar have horse farms with breeding operations throughout the state that generate jobs and tax dollars? Illinois horse racing is a $2.5 billion horse racing and breeding program, which supports thousands of workers from breeders and trainers to feed suppliers, and more. It supports tens of thousands of full time agribusiness jobs.
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 7:26 pm:
–Illinois horse racing is a $2.5 billion horse racing and breeding program, which supports thousands of workers from breeders and trainers to feed suppliers, and more. It supports tens of thousands of full time agribusiness jobs.–
How is that possible if no one is going to the tracks. How is it that a $2.5 billion state entertainment industry has no presence through advertising or promotion?
- Pkes - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 7:30 pm:
It’s called casinos!
- Tack - Thursday, May 19, 11 @ 7:43 pm:
Yellow Dog Democrat–Are you aware of what happened at Chicago Motor Speedway a.k.a. Sportsmans Park? There is a distinct correlation in the rise of the casino industry in Illinois and the decline of horse racing. The casinos have received EVERY break for the last twenty years, while horse racing has received a big, fat zero. It’s time to level the playing field!!!