* The Tribune reported today that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel already has plans for the money generated by a proposed Chicago casino…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Monday offered some specifics for fixing schools, roads and public transit with money from a proposed Chicago casino, stepping up his pressure on Gov. Pat Quinn to approve a wide-ranging plan that would expand gambling statewide.
In an interview with the Tribune at his City Hall office, Emanuel said he would invest revenue from a city-owned casino to build or renovate up to 25 schools; double arterial street repaving to 80 miles a year over three years; replace 20 miles of “L” track each year to eliminate slow zones, rebuild 10 miles of elevated track structure each year and renovate 45 rail stations over five years; replace 40 miles of leaky city water mains; and overhaul five viaducts that are rusting away.
* But Gov. Pat Quinn was clearly not happy that Emanuel was “putting the cart before the horse”…
Quinn made it clear he doesn’t appreciate Emanuel’s repeated suggestions that he sign legislation to legalize a massive expansion of gambling statewide in addition to allowing Chicago to own a casino. […]
“What I have to do is carefully analyze this particular piece of legislation that has not arrived on my desk, so the notion that we’re spending the money before the law is passed is putting the cart before the horse,” Quinn said at an unrelated news conference. “I would urge the mayor to talk to our gaming board chairman, Judge Aaron Jaffe, because there are serious shortcomings in this law when it comes to honesty and integrity.” […]
“I don’t think any person with common sense, looking at the legislation today, would say that it has sufficient protections for the public.” Quinn said. “It’s great for gamblers and gaming interests, but it’s not, in my opinion, strong enough when it comes to protecting the public, and the people of Illinois come first.
“No mayor, no politician, no gambling race track owner or gambling casino owner is going to put themselves before the people of Illinois as long as I’m governor.”
Perhaps Quinn should consult with the Chicago News Cooperative, which reported not long ago that many of the Gaming Board’s objections to the bill were bogus…
The gaming board’s Jaffe and other critics have warned that the board does not have enough staff to properly vet the thousands of new casino employees the bill will create openings for. Last month alone the board reviewed more than 600 applicants for positions at casinos and racetracks.
Bilek, of the Crime Commission, said he was “suspicious and concerned” lawmakers purposely designed an expansion bill so enormous, the gaming board couldn’t possibly keep up.
Though the bill’s supporters dispute that claim, they do agree the board will need to hire more staff, and the legislature — according to Lang and Cullerton — is not opposed to helping facilitate that.
However, the gaming board’s staffing levels would be addressed in its appropriations bill, not in the gambling expansion bill, which requires a separate act of the legislature. Lang said he would “be happy to” introduce a bill supplementing the board’s budget if asked. Typically, state agency directors testify before House and Senate appropriations committees to request more money during the spring session. The gaming board did not testify in Springfield then because the gaming bill had not yet passed and the agency does not take positions on pending legislation, Illinois Gaming Board spokesman Gene O’Shea said in May.
The Senate Democrats sent along this analysis of the Gaming Board’s funding levels. Bottom line: Authorized headcount is more than double what it was two years ago and spending is up about 60 percent and they’ve been given everything they’ve asked for in the last two budget cycles, despite cuts to just about everybody else…
Since the beginning of the 2010 budget year, authorized state spending at the Gaming Board has increased nearly 60 percent and they’ve been authorized to more than double agency headcount - FY10 headcount of 84, in FY11 an estimated headcount of 201 and in FY12 the projected headcount is 220.
FY 10 (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010)
Gaming Board budget: $100.9 million
*Upon approval of video gaming an additional $27.4 million was budgeted for the Gaming Board for implementation.
Total FY 10 state funding: $128.3 million
*FY 11 (July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011)
Gaming Board budget request: $137.3 million Gaming Board budget
authorized: $137.3 million
*FY 12 (July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012)
Gaming Board budget request: $161.1 million.
Gaming Board budget authorized: $161.1 million
*FY 11 and FY 12 appropriations included a separate line item for Implementation and Administration of Video Gaming. The separate line item amount was $14 million for FY11 and $17.5 million for FY12.
*** UPDATE 1 *** About a hundred proponents of the gaming bill, including “Members of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association (IHHA). Hospitality workers, 4-H members and families, various other agriculture groups,” will rally tomorrow at the Illinois State Fair’s grandstand and then march to the Governor’s Day festivities to express their support for the legislation. From a press release…
Hardworking horsemen and women have sent thousands of letters to Governor Pat Quinn this summer urging him to sign Senate Bill 744. If this bill does not pass, horseracing will continue to slide behind other racing states in the country and 30,000 agribusiness jobs will be jeopardized.
Other agriculture groups like county fairs, 4-H, soil and water conservation, hay and grain farmers also support SB744 because of the money it will provide for Illinois’ agriculture.
* Also, listen to the governor’s complete comments about the gaming bill…
*** UPDATE 2 *** Oh, yeah, it’s on…
“I will not allow Chicago’s future to be held hostage by Washington’s inaction. And I will not allow Chicago’s future to be held hostage because the state obviously has other financial issues and their resources have been drying up over the years,” the mayor said.
“Here’s a fresh set of resources, 7,000 to 10,000 people directly to work at the casino and another 15,000 to 20,000 people going to work in the construction industry rebuilding Chicago so it stays a world-class, economically-competitive city. I can’t think of another thing to do … if we want to be in control of our own destiny.’’
He added, “To compete against Shanghai, to compete against Paris, to compete against Hong Kong, to compete against L.A., Chicago has to rebuild its infrastructure and put its people to work.”
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 1:18 pm:
Considering who was telling whom to back off, your headline made me laugh very loudly.
- Not a Newcomer - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 1:29 pm:
Quinn should not be lecturing others about putting the cart before the horse. Look at this veto of the superintendent money, or his budget addresses. Sheesh!
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 1:56 pm:
OK, text book Quinn
One one hand, he says: sheesh, I can’t do anything because I don’t know anything because they haven’t even sent it to me …
“What I have to do is carefully analyze this particular piece of legislation that has not arrived on my desk …”
On the other hand, he claims to have advanced knowledge of the specifics …
“I don’t think any person with common sense, looking at the legislation today, would say that it has sufficient protections for the public.” Quinn said. “It’s great for gamblers and gaming interests, but it’s not, in my opinion, strong enough when it comes to protecting the public, and the people of Illinois come first.
OK, which is it? Is he totally in the dark about the legislation because he apparently isn’t aware that it’s been on ILGA.gov for a couple months now and no one’s bothered to read it to him between water aerobics sessions, or is he poring over it with a fine-toothed ethical comb while waiting for Chairman Jaffe to fire up the Kleig lights with the Soy Boy signal so hero Soy Boy can swoop in and save/ruin the day, again?
- downstate hack - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 1:57 pm:
The Gaming Board should be looking at ways to improve their performance on mandates sent to them by elected officials rather than striving solely to usurp legislative powers and policies through lobbying efforts after bills have been duly passed. $14 million for administering the video gaming bill in FY 11, yet not even a draft rule proposed. JMHO.
- Shore - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:02 pm:
Forgive me, but 1/3 of washington is controlled by an administration rahm ran as of 12 months ago. He didn’t quite hit a home run with his stimulus plan the last time he was up to bat.
- Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:04 pm:
This Just In…..
Illinois Department of Revenue denies non-profit status to Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago t Edward Hospital in Naperville and Decatur Memorial Hospital in Decatur.
I can’t speak for Decatur, but I can tell you that if these decisions stand, that Prentice and Edward will both fetch substantial property taxes for the local jurisdictions.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:05 pm:
Do not taunt happy fun mayor….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Fun_Ball
Seriously Pat, just don’t.
- Dirt Digger - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:08 pm:
Back off or what, Quinn? Historically speaking his actions have zero correlation with what he says, not to mention common sense, change in employment and/or fiscal responsibility.
Worst case scenario he destroys any chance of a Chicago casino. There’s a 50 percent chance of that happening anyway.
- Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:14 pm:
To rebuild Chicago, we need to keep from skimming the nation’s wealth and pouring it into Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, Israel, Star Wars and the Military-Industrial Complex.
- Aldyth - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:22 pm:
Quinn is going to “carefully analyse”? Why do I get this image in my head of the scene in Blazing Saddles when Governor Le Petomaine and his cabinet end up playing paddle ball?
- Northsider - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:25 pm:
Aldyth @ 2:22: Just remember to give the governor a “Harrumph!”
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:27 pm:
“Blazing Saddles,” “Goodfellas” and the first two “Godfather” movies are required reading for everyone in Illinois politics. Thanks for the reference, Aldyth.
- Stooges - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:30 pm:
I think Quinn is the only person who listens to anything Jaffe says. As Downstate Hack points out, Jaffe is still fumbling with video gaming.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:32 pm:
Often a Quinn speech is followed with someone saying ” I am glad these young people were here to hear that authentic frontier gibberish”
- Stooges - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:34 pm:
I predict that Quinn will be as successful in his battles against Emanuel as Blago was when he faced off against Madigan. Quinn is out of his weight class.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:35 pm:
“Authentic frontier gibberish” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke5Mr5eCF2U
- L.S. - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:38 pm:
Quinn can only hide behind a bureaucrat like Jaffee for so long. Rahm has the message on his side here. People are less concerned about the protections in this bill. The immediate concern is the money. The system is starving. People are going to start to feel real pain soon (if they haven’t already). Rahm is talking about jobs and money for popular service programs. Quinn is talking about the number of regulators. Once again, Quinn is playing from a weak position with a muddled message. The question isn’t if Quinn will have to fold, it’s when.
- Aldyth - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:45 pm:
The Blazing Saddles harumph scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN99jshaQbY&feature=related
The Blazing Saddles paddle ball scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnLMAT5UCt0&feature=related
I am forced to confess that in my misspent youth in the Jaycees, we could act out pretty much every significant scene with accurate dialogue and sound effects.
- Stormy - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 2:46 pm:
Unless Rahm will fix the blackjack tables, put magnets on the wheels and put the odds at 1 chance in a 100 on the slots his spending plan is just another dream. Since Rahm is pulling figures out of the hat why not dazzle the Trib with 100,000 new Casino jobs, 250,000 new building jobs and a few trillion in the economy, cuz the paper won’t challenge the goofy predictions.
- mokenavince - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 3:26 pm:
Quinn gives c students a bad name,all he does is twiddle his thumbs. Quinn is in way over his head.
Mel Brooks governor in Blazing Saddles and Quinn one in the same.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 3:35 pm:
However after it passes they are more than happy to tell you how they feel.. Since it is still in the leg technically isn’t the casino expansion bill still pending?
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 3:45 pm:
It must particularly irk Quinn that a Democratic politician in this state has a clearly thought out plan for how to generate revenue, and how to spend it wisely…
Quinn, one elected term, and out.
- mokenavince - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 3:48 pm:
Cinci you can start his recall. Count me in.
- 10th Indy - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 3:56 pm:
Mayor Rahm has set my heart aflutter. I can hear Lili von Shtupp now “It’s twue! It’s twue! It’s Twue! It’s Twue!”
- Jaded - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 3:57 pm:
“Work Work work, work work work, work work work…”
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 4:03 pm:
lol, Jaded.
I kidded Sen. Trotter a couple of months ago about his new Senate district, which includes some very, um, rural areas. Remember that scene when the new sheriff rode into town?
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 4:11 pm:
Is Quinn the Gov or the horse Rahm punches to the ground?
Mongo love Sheriff Dart.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 4:19 pm:
Let’s go easy on the violent imagery, please.
- zatoichi - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 4:25 pm:
Maybe Quinn, Rahm, MJM, Cross and several others can sit around the campfire while eating beans and solve their issues.
- Tom Joad - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 4:32 pm:
Why should Rahm care about how bad the casino bill is as long as Chicago gets the big piece of the pie? Quinn should cut out Danville,Rockford, 2/3 of the extra positions for existing casinos and strengthen the oversite provision. That would be a start for negotiations with Cullerton.
- Northsider - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 4:34 pm:
Gabby Johnson and Sarah Palin (Johnson): Separated at birth?
http://youtu.be/J3Tw9TaM_cQ
- amalia - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 4:34 pm:
dear governor quinn: quit being too cute by more than a half. Chicago wants a casino. not just mayor rahm, but anyone who wants revenue. on a day when a hospital that does huge amounts of work for this city,Prentice, is declared a for profit hospital, it’s a sign Chicago needs revenue. nobody is forcing anyone to gamble. get off your crazy stand.
- WizzardOfOzzie - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 4:45 pm:
“Chicago wants a casino.” Do you have numbers to back that up? And “anyone” who wants additional revenue to funds programs wants this monstrosity of a casino bill?
Let me remind you what the bill is. And remember, this is in addition to video gaming. You get:
- Chicago casino
- Lake County casino
- South suburban casino
- Rockford casino
- Danville casino
- Slots at all tracks
- Slots at airports
- Horseracing in Springfield
- Slots at the state fair
What gaming interest isn’t included? This bill passed because something was thrown in for everyone. It was not constructed in a balanced or thoughtful way. This bill is a mess and the Governor is right to critical of it.
No what his royal Rahm-ness says.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 4:49 pm:
But back to the issue, it isn’t like the state already does not have gaming. At some point, they are going to implement video poker (at this rate perhaps 2014) so why not slots at tracks? At this point it is impressive we still have horse racing after adding casinos in the first place.
At this point we have folks from Illinois who go to Indiana to gamble, a legal activity in Illinois, we might as well keep those dollars in the state.
Sometimes governor, good enough is good enough so enough with this veto stuff because a bill isn’t perfect.
- Plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 4:58 pm:
Candygram….
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 4:58 pm:
Not everyone in Chicago wants a casino.
- Coach - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 5:15 pm:
=== This bill passed because something was thrown in for everyone. It was not constructed in a balanced or thoughtful way. ===
The political reality is that meaningful gambling expansion can’t pass the GA without something “thrown in for everyone.” The repeated but failed attempts to expand gambling over the last decade, year and year out, have made this clear.
There simply are way too many interests involved in gambling in Illinois, on so many levels, to advance legislation such as this without satisfying all of them.
Even Pat Quinn must understand this, and I can’t imagine he ultimately will veto this bill.
- Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 5:17 pm:
I’ll second what 47th said.
A large percentage if not a majority do not want one; especially NIMBY’s since no site has yet been determined.
The question posed will be; would you rather have a casino in someone else’s neighborhood, or would have YOUR property taxes go up by ___%?
Pick your poison.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 5:19 pm:
===A large percentage if not a majority===
I’d like to see some actual and recent numbers.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 5:27 pm:
Put it in the old post office. Or just put slots up all over town–the ballparks,the museums.
- amalia - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 6:12 pm:
the Tribune did a poll in Dec. 2010.
The Chicago Tribune poll finds 47 percent of Chicago voters now back a city-owned casino, while 41 percent oppose it.
Those numbers are almost the exact opposite of a similar poll taken in 2003.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7849335
- What a joke - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 6:48 pm:
I don’t think any trailer bill can be drafted to appease Quinn. I think the original bill was passed because of all the special interest portion of the legislation. You’ll never get them to agree on this again. I could be wrong but I think Quinn will kill it because no trailer bill will be forth coming.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 7:53 pm:
A properly situated and well appointed Chicago casino with some entertainment and dining amenities gets new tourist dollars. In a cage match scenario my money’s on da mare.
- Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 8:14 pm:
The issue is very difficult to Poll without more parameters.
Would you approve of a casino at Navy Pier?
Would you approve of a casino at McCormick Place?
Would you approve of a casino at Block 37?
Would you approve of a casino in Marina City?
Would you approve of a casino 24/7?
Would you approve of a casino less than 24/7?
Would you approve of a casino that can serve liquor 24/7?
Would you approve of a casino that can comp drinks?
Would you only approve of a casino if they could not comp drinks?
Would you approve of full casino expansion at racetracks?
Generic polling of the issue changes as the perameters of the operations and the site location changes.
- Nohopeforillinois - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 8:41 pm:
So the Mayor plans to give City of Chicago money from the casino to a separate agency - the CTA? Good luck getting the City Council to approve such a massage fund transfer!
- Mighty M. Mouse - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 8:44 pm:
Let’s see. Quinn says the bill has “serious shortcomings” (plural). Then Rich cites the Chicago News Cooperative, “which reported not long ago that many of the Gaming Board’s objections [plural] to the bill were bogus.” Then they attempt to controvert ONE of Jaffe’s “many” objections, namely, that the Gaming Board lacked sufficient resources.
I think Judge Jaffe has more objections than just that one. For example, he said the bill would not require racetrack employees to undergo fingerprinting anymore, which is a vital requirement in order to perform criminal background checks. He also said the drafters of the bill crafted it in a way that would lead to inevitable turf battles between the Gaming Board, the Illinois Racing Board and new boards that would be created to oversee casino gambling in Chicago and at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Somehow, first Rich and then all the rest of you never mentioned ANY other objections. Personally, I’m concerned about Chicago specially regulating its own casino. Chicago didn’t do a confidence inspiring job of regulating its Hired Trucks. Why isn’t the Illinois Gaming Board good enough to regulate Chicago’s casino? Not enough resources, you think? I’d say too inflexible is more likely.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 9:02 pm:
Mouse, read the Chicago News Cooperative story. It’s all about the local ownership boards and how they’re still accountable to the Gaming Board under the proposed law.
Heck, skip the story and go read the legislation itself. You’d be one up on Quinn and Jaffe.
The fingerprinting “concern” is another canard. It let’s the Racing Board grant a waiver so they don’t have to fingerprint the Queen of England when her horse runs at the Arlington Million. Yes, this is a true scenario. A horse owned by a princess won it last year. Nothing like paying to have your horse shipped overseas through customs, TRS and a Dept of Ag quarantine than to have Chairman Jaffe demand you go to the Arlington Heights PD to be fingerprinted for fear the mob will take over.
Nevermind the fact that its the RACING BOARD of which Mr. Jaffe is not a member.
I could go on and on, but at some point you should really take responsibility and educate yourself. It’s not like the language is secretly hidden away from public view. It’s been on the Web for months now.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Aug 16, 11 @ 9:05 pm:
Whoops. That should have been TSA rather than TRS. So easily confused.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 17, 11 @ 2:55 am:
====first Rich and then all the rest of you never mentioned ANY other objections. ===
Is this your first day here? Sheesh, man, get with the program.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Wednesday, Aug 17, 11 @ 3:13 am:
I’m sorry Rich. I was responding to what you wrote here and now. I haven’t memorized everything you’ve written in the past, but I would be interested in knowing your opinion about having a separate regulator specially for Chicago’s casino. If you’ve stated it in the past I don’t recall it.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 17, 11 @ 3:22 am:
Try the Google or use the site’s “search” button. Better yet, just read the linked CNC story. Pretty simple stuff.
Also, in the future, try not to assume that everything I’ve ever written is on the front page today.