* Lou speaks the truth…
Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday laid out what kind of gambling expansion bill he could accept and it doesn’t include slot machines at Illinois race tracks, a position sponsors say could imperil their push to add five new casinos in the state, including one in Chicago.
“If this were in bill form it could not pass,” Democratic Rep. Lou Lang of Skokie said of Quinn’s suggestions.
And so does Sen. Terry Link…
Link said slots at race tracks bring more than 20 votes to the bill. Without it, he can’t pass any gambling expansion legislation, he said.
* The legislative math simply doesn’t work without slots at tracks. Barring a miracle or yet another Quinn flip-flop, the governor has all but killed gaming expansion…
“Unless these principles are followed, there’s no way I will approve a bill,” Quinn said at a Chicago news conference.
And…
“I’m the final word,” Quinn said. “We’re not going to have a willy-nilly gambling bill in Illinois that is not protecting integrity, that is way too big and excessive and doesn’t provide adequate revenue for education. … Casino gambling at 14 different locations in Illinois is way too much. We have no interest in becoming the Las Vegas of the Midwest. We need to retain our culture.”
It will be the mother of all Pat Quinn flip-flops if he decides during veto session that he can support slots at tracks after saying that. I mean, I don’t see a lot of negotiating room there, do you? McCaffrey does, but he gets paid to be an optimist…
Dave McCaffrey of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association described Quinn’s announcement as “the first pitch of the seventh game, and the game will play out during the next month.”
* It’s a pyrrhic victory for Danville and Rockford…
Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer has been waiting six years to hear an Illinois governor say his city of more than 32,000 residents should get a casino.
On Monday, “to hear that Gov. (Pat) Quinn, too, supports a casino for Danville is a milestone,” Eisenhauer said. But Eisenhauer realizes that while Quinn supports a casino for Danville, Quinn also could not support legislation that actually would put one there. […]
Leaders in Winnebago County are thrilled to hear Quinn support a casino for their city of Rockford, said Mike Dunn, regional director of governmental affairs for the county.
“We could never figure out what he wanted, but this makes us feel better,” Dunn said.
* The Southland’s leaders thought this was a good thing…
Southland leaders are encouraged by Gov. Pat Quinn’s announcement Monday that he would support a casino in the south suburbs.
Hooray! We’re finally on the governor’s radar!
Kadner supplies the cold water…
“Everything in that bill was put there to attract enough votes to pass it out of the state Legislature,” said state Rep. Marlo Colvin (D-Chicago), a key backer of the casino legislation. “The horse racing industry is in difficult financial shape and needs help. I don’t know how the governor can ignore the economic realities of the south suburbs, Chicago and people across this state who need jobs and economic development.”
I pointed out to Colvin that Quinn did endorse a casino in the south suburbs.
“It isn’t going to matter if we can’t get the votes to pass the bill,” Colvin said. “We’ve been talking to the governor about this since the spring, trying to get a sense of what he wanted, and he comes out with this a week before the fall veto session, at the 11th hour, which is apparently his preferred manner of doing business.”
* The consequences of this particular Quinn decree have been overlooked…
Quinn also switched direction on the video poker law he signed in 2009 to pay for a statewide construction program. The law allows the machines to operate at restaurants and taverns unless a community decides to opt out. Instead, Quinn said the machines shouldn’t go up unless a community votes to allow them. That could greatly reduce video poker in Illinois.
He not only signed that into law, he came up with the idea in the first place. Video poker was designed to help fund capital projects - the very same projects Quinn always talks about when he wants to point to all the jobs he’s created. Opt-in would kill those revenues.
Also, he agreed at the time that there would be no changes to the capital bill unless it was agreed to by all the legislative leaders. This is definitely not an agreed change. And where are they gonna get the money to replace this revenue stream? Another cigarette tax hike? Senate President Cullerton could go along with that, few others will.
* The Sun-Times is concerned…
At a press conference Monday, Quinn didn’t leave much wiggle room. “Unless these principles are followed,” he said, “there’s no way I will approve a bill.”
Key lawmakers have signaled that they are more than willing to compromise.
We can only hope that Quinn will do the same.
But the Tribune is downright giddy…
Quinn’s challenge now is sticking to his ultimatums — in the past, not his strong suit — on what a revised casino bill can and cannot do if it is to win his signature.
Governor, on Monday you did right by the people of Illinois.
You’re holding the winning hand here.
Don’t fold.
It’s definitely a “winning hand” for someone who wants to kill gaming expansion. Quinn’s oversight changes and most of the rest of the stuff is nowhere close to being a deal killer. The slots at tracks thing is a killer, however, and money will have to be found to replace any revenues lost from a change to an opt-in for video poker.
They’ve been trying for a decade to pass this bill. They finally found the winning formula this spring and now it’s been tossed out the window.
* Related…
* ‘No way’: Quinn won’t support slot machines at Illinois racetracks
* Quinn: No slots at state fairgrounds
* Joliet leaders say Quinn casino plan still too broad
* Rockford casino opponents, proponents see Quinn announcement differently
* Rockford casino still a go in Pat Quinn’s proposed bill
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 8:14 am:
–Casino gambling at 14 different locations in Illinois is way too much. We have no interest in becoming the Las Vegas of the Midwest.–
That’s an inexplicable 1980s perspective. There’s already casino gambling all over the Midwest and all over the country for that matter. It’s been a long time since Las Vegas and Atlantic City were the only gambling cities.
According to the governor, we can “preserve our culture” by adding video poker to bars and restaurants where no (legal) gambling currently exists, but not slots at racetracks where people are already gambling?
There’s’ no logic at all, so there’s more here than meets the eye. Just off the top of my head, the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines would be quite happy not to have slots competition from Arlington Park and Maywood.
I won’t try to make sense of it,
- Fact-Check - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 8:37 am:
This Vegas of the Midwest line is bull. Every single state we border will still have more gambling positions per person than we will. Every one. And that’s not a projection (like revenue or job creation). That’s a fact that anyone can look up.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 8:48 am:
At some level does Quinn hate business? I am only being a bit snarky here, he keeps wanting to change the rules on video poker which seems to me to run the very real risk of killing some investments in it.
First it is taking forever to implement, literally. Now he wants to change the rules requiring an opt-in instead of an opt-out. With this sort of regulatory environment would you invest in machines, would you clear out space at your social club?
You signed video poker Pat, get over it and start working on actually implementing it.
- TimB - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 8:59 am:
““I’m the final word,” Quinn said.”
Now, if we can figure which words are really the “final” ones, we’ll be set. Gov Quinn doesn’t have a real good record of sticking to his decisions.
- Fight Fair - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 9:04 am:
Some among us seem to be misunderstanding the governor on video gambling. He’s posing opt-in as a contingency. The Tribune’s editorial paraphrases his if-then proposition to legislators:
You gambling proponents already have your video gambling law and you can keep it — the Gaming Board will roll out video gambling when it can guarantee a high-integrity system and not before. But if you also want more casinos, you have to accept my new opt-in rule on video gambling: Only communities whose city councils or county boards pass ordinances accepting video gambling could have it, and given the unpopularity of video gambling, there won’t be many of those ordinances. Bottom line: Illinois either will have the current video gambling rollout and no casino expansion, or Illinois will have casino expansion but a much more restricted rollout of video gambling. …
Monday’s news coverage focused on what Quinn said about the number and placement of casinos — what he will and won’t tolerate. Mostly overlooked, but more important in the long run, is his confrontation of legislators with that choice of ubiquitous video gambling, or an expansion of casino gambling, but not both.
- Das Man - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 9:30 am:
=Eliminating slot machines at race tracks could well erode support for the gambling bill from lawmakers representing agricultural areas. Revenue from the slot machines would go toward the state’s ailing racing industry.=
The SJ-R article must refer to the race to the bottom that proponents of this bill support. Quinn is making the right call, Illinois shouldn’t be engaged in zombie farming at casinos statewide.
- just sayin' - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 9:34 am:
My favorite is Kirk Dillard going around criticizing the massive gambling bill, the same one he voted YES on!
Dillard was also on radio criticizing ComEd, the same ComEd he voted YES for big fee increase.
I really hope Nybo wins. He may not be much better but Dillard’s schtick is too old. Something’s wrong with him.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 9:57 am:
–..OBAMA AND EMMANNUELE PLANETS WILL NEVER SURVIVE,,,
And how many moons are there orbiting your planet, Captain Cap Letters?
- TwoFeetThick - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 9:59 am:
@Anonymous 9:50 am
Um, wow. Let me guess, first visit to the Capfax Blog? We try not to yell at each other incoherently here. You obviously didn’t follow the advice that new commenters should click the link below before proceeding.
- bill - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:18 am:
lol
and the spokesman for the southern part of Illinois checks in.
Thanks for the input, Goober.
- Transplant - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:18 am:
–..OBAMA AND EMMANNUELE PLANETS WILL NEVER SURVIVE,,,
That’s a bit creepy, just sayin’.
- lincoln's beard - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:20 am:
How about we let Sears install slot machines at its campus in Hoffman Estates — if we’re going to prop up a failing business with gambling and keep it from leaving the state, let’s get serious.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:28 am:
Abe’s Facial Hair….
Sears would find a way to lose money with slots…
- OneMan - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:28 am:
Rod, are you holding down the cap lock button again?
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:30 am:
Between this and the threat to close down mental health facilities, prisons, I just don’t understand Quinn’s thought processes. He doesn’t seem to make any more sense than the rabid commenter above.
- x ace - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:33 am:
Quinn, just might be right this time.
And think a bill could possibly pass if a new Impact Fee is included to support racing and if it were structured to make sure it applied in large part to purses (i.e. Agriculture benefits )
Downstate wants to support agriculture not the track owners who want to be casino operators. If Quinn’s impact fee subsidy plan is structured in a manner that supports and instills confidence in the horsemen and their ag suppliers it will be a better deal than slots. If ?
Interesting to see what develops.
- Robert - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:40 am:
If this kills gaming expansion and its extra tax revenue to the state, then Gov. Quinn certainly can be held responsible for coming up with future new taxes or fees to make up what he is trying to throw away.
- walkinfool - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:41 am:
Tough to figure this.
It looks like the Rivers Casino and other casino interests,(and their lobbyists), won the day, playing off the Gov’s natural distrust of gambling…
- Plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:41 am:
This is precisely why legislation here is a failure.
You start with what may (or may not) be an acceptable premise. e.g. a casino in Chicago. Then as you roll the legislation downhill you pick up all kinds of ancillary fluff which then grows in to a monster of addons and you call it a legislative compromise. I’m surprised that the legislation does not include neighborhood pachinko parlors. (perhaps I should not have given that idea to Terry Link)
Sausage-making at its wurst.
- soccermom - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:41 am:
It’s sad to see that Governor Quinn has lost the Tatooine vote…
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:51 am:
=Rod, are you holding down the cap lock button again?=
LOL!!!
- Elder - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 10:58 am:
Gambling is a tax on stupid people. The lobbyist feeding frenzy to pass this bill was obscene. I am glad the Governor announced his position.
As to “killing” an expansion… I wonder. Maybe a problem that good old fashioned horse-trading on other issues might solve. I remember when Gov. Thompson subsidized the move of Sears to Hoffman Estates. Chicago was bought off with dollars for Navy Pier rehab.
- Winsome - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 11:02 am:
No big loss. With no revenues from casino headed to fund pensions who cares if there is no Chicago casino.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 11:15 am:
Quinn is speaking at the City Club today. Maybe someone will ask him if yesterday’s outline was really a poison pill to kill this off while pretending it was about improving a bad bill.
As for video poker, I’m at a loss. We’re three years into the program and this huge chunk of revenue won’t be on-line for the foreseeable future. How does he think he’s going to fund all of the capital projects without revenue?
Quinn needs to opt-in to the real world and lead, follow or get out of the way.
- AC - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 11:20 am:
Gambling is indeed a tax on stupid/bored people. People who are a short drive from other cities and states where they can engage in activies they enjoy. Of course, those people may not leave town, they might waste their money on something equally frivilous, and less benefical to their communities.
Looking closer to home, I’d swear there is a conspiracy against anything interesting coming to Springfield. Do nearly all the activties available need to be limited to Lincoln and Drinkin? I am eagerly awaiting any alternative funding sources that the governor is going to provide for the fairgrounds. What? He has no funding sources? The state doesn’t have any extra cash. Well, at least this will keep things classy at the fairgrounds when the fair isn’t going on. The absence of gambling will leave plenty of room for weekend electronics, furniture and used car sales. That will certainly build the economic base of the north end.
- Deep South - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 11:21 am:
===and the spokesman for the southern part of Illinois checks in.===
Ahh…no, if I were to guess, I’d say Chicago.
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 11:22 am:
The leaders purposely excluded Quinn on this issue, like they do on any issue they think they can get past him. The proponents just needed the bill passed and figured they could convince the governor later.
The fact that they couldn’t and now are blaming him for the demise is poetic justice for the leaders.
How would you expect a governor who is treated as irrelevant to act?
- Hawkeye - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 11:24 am:
Sometimes people say “No” just to prove they can. What makes it interesting is wondering if they are trying to prove it to the world or themselves.
- Coach - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 11:37 am:
Raw partisanship might explain Quinn’s retort. The Repubs are mostly aligned with the horse tracks, and the Dems are mostly aligned with the prospect of casinos in Chicago, and Cook and Lake counties - or at least that’s my impression. So, Quinn may think he’s doing the good work of sticking it to the GOP and their allies.
- TwoFeetThick - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 12:04 pm:
=I KNOW WHAT WE COULD DO ,,,,, LETS GIVE MORE PEOPLE FREE EVERYTHING=
Great idea. Why don’t you start by sharing some of that preemo whatever it is you’re smoking. Oh, and multiple commas don’t equal a period, or anything else but bad punctuation. But I do have to thank you for putting the Cheap Trick song, “Dream Police” into my head. Been humming it ever since you started.
“The Dream Police they live inside of my head…”
- OneMan - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 12:23 pm:
The lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math, pun intended but a casino is ironically a much better bet.
- Cook County Commoner - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 12:29 pm:
So, the Gov says slot machines at horse tracks where people already go to gamble are not good, but some new casinos are okay. And a State Rep Lang from Skokie, where the citizens would burn down a casino, is in charge of the legislation. And through the looking glass we have crossed.
- downstate hack - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 12:35 pm:
>How would you expect a governor who is treated as irrelevant to act?
- Left Out - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 12:41 pm:
I back Quinn. If the horses cannot attract betters then they should close. Those who play the slots loose more than they should already (they are a sucker bet).
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 12:50 pm:
That’s enough! Attacking school teachers, my profession? I hope you ban this guy, Rich.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 1:06 pm:
–GO SENATORS GO–
Dude, they haven’t been the Senators for years. They moved to Texas, and are about to win the World Series.
- mokenavince - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 1:14 pm:
Does the nonsense ever quit with Quinn? The Vegas of the Midwest, he must be dreaming.We need jobs
and the and the legislature looks like ship of fools. How do these guy’s keep getting elected?
- OneMan - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 1:20 pm:
So all of you who are so concerned about slots being a bad bet are working hard to get the lottery out of this state, right. Even penny slots in this state return about 88% of what is bet, for the lottery it’s 58%…
- Rudy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 1:43 pm:
Mayor Emanuel can be expected to push hard for a compromise to get a Chicago casino. Possibly an enhanced contribution by all casinos to the racing purses. But the tracks need more than purses–they need bodies, patrons, life! The slots bring the patrons out. The other states have realized this. I never thought I’d say I missed Governor Edgar (a harness horse owner). PQ just does not like gambling and is now just out on his own, moralizing–he doesn’t appear to have any sizable constituency supporting his position, as he does with the Com Ed bill.
- Plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 1:57 pm:
So how long do profitable operations (Casinos, owned by rich folks) have to subsidize money losing operations (Horse tracks, owned by rich folks)
Isn’t it a subsidy to the rich?
Looks like horse racing is a declining enterprise where new fans do not replace the ones who lose interest or pass away.
When do you pull the plug?
- soccermom - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 2:42 pm:
RICH WHY DO YOU DELETE COMMENTS IN ALL CAPS? ARE YOU A SECRET FONTIST? A MEMBER OF THE LOWERCASE CONSPIRACY? I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE CAPITAL FAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 2:45 pm:
I think casinos are a lousy way to generate revenue, however, I think there is a place for them. I do not support slots at the airports because it would remind me of Vegas where there is little else to do there besides gamble, drink, spend money in chain stores, view a large contingent assortment of the dregs of society…and/or 50 year olds trying to act 20…IMO as long as Emanuel gets his casino, there will be resolution on the gaming issues prior to the end of veto session…Chicago is a world class city that could support a casino in the downtown area as one of many pleasant amenities for visitors and residents alike…if there are slots at the airports maybe some of the revenue could be spent on FREE wifi at O’Hare, where users have to pay to use it…so backward and cheap!!
- just sayin' - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 2:46 pm:
Good Luck Rahm, there goes your casino..Pat Quinn did what he always planned on doing..killing any casino bill. Hey Rahmie look at ME! I AM THE GOVERNATOR>>>
- downstate hack - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 2:55 pm:
>Looks like horse racing is a declining enterprise where new fans do not replace the ones who lose interest or pass away.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 2:57 pm:
soccermom, it’s Capitol with an “O” not an “A.” I delete comments written in all capital letters to remind people to spell it with an “O.” Simple.
heh.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 2:58 pm:
Also, whoever guessed that guy was from Chicago is right. I tracked him down. I don’t think he’ll be back.
- pj - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 3:00 pm:
hasnt the Gov recieved 120,000 in campaign cash from Neil Bluhm’s family? Neil’s casino is 10 miles from arlington park just in case you were scoring from home
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 3:01 pm:
Also also, he appears to be an Italian immigrant, which could explain some of the weird grammar.
- Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 3:11 pm:
{I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE CAPITAL FAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}
actually it’s the caapitOl fax!!!!!!!!
break out your thesaurus and get with the program
- soccermom - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 3:17 pm:
Quinn T., it was a joke. A witticism. A jest. A pleasantry. A sally. A bon mot, even.
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 4:01 pm:
hey Rich, you gotta problem wid da italian immigrants er sumtin? Ya better watch yerself dere…;)
- BIG R. Ph - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 4:06 pm:
You are at the race track participating in State sanctioned gambling. What difference does it make if you put $2 on Nellie in the 5th or $2 in a slot machine or $2 on a hand of blackjack.
You are gambling.
Gov. Quinn get your head out of your butt and save the horse racing industry in Illinois!!
- OneMan - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 4:11 pm:
Big R, the difference (such as it is) is that the horses are para-mutual betting. That is there is not set payout on your bet, but the betters money is distributed among the winners after the house takes it’s set cut.
That is why it is possible to win a lot more on a show bet than a win bet (the show pot might be significantly larger) so the house facilitates the gambling but you are essentially betting that you can pick horses better than those around you. Sort of like poker in a way. Casino gaming you are betting against the house (the house has more potential upside as well as significantly more risk) in casino gambling.
It isn’t a huge distinction, but it is one and when trying to understand Quinn’s logic, you grab to what rail you can.
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 4:36 pm:
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 2:57 pm:
“soccermom, it’s Capitol with an “O” not an “A.” I delete comments written in all capital letters to remind people to spell it with an “O.” Simple.
heh.”
Upper Case Twit of the Year?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSqkdcT25ss
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 4:40 pm:
–Looks like horse racing is a declining enterprise where new fans do not replace the ones who lose interest or pass away.–
They have no one to blame but themselves.When’s the last time you saw a TV spot for a racetrack? Any kind of promotion at all? The casinos are on TV and radio, constantly, and hustle with all sorts of giveaways and entertainment.
Geez, you don’t think Arlington could bring in some big-time concerts or something for after the races? They have the venue (thank you, Illinois taxpayers). When I was a kid, Phil Georgeff calling the big race of the day was a staple on the TV news, every day of the season.
The owners got lazy, relying on their silk-stocking lobsters to push them up to the front of the trough everytime they got in a jam.
You’re an entertainment venue. Entertain, if you want to put fannies in the seats.
- Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 5:49 pm:
{Quinn T., it was a joke. A witticism.}
Soccermom
Yes, yes it was, and I am glad you got the joke. I hope that you didn’t have to re-read it too many times before it sunk in
- Park - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 8:20 pm:
I actually like many of Quinn’s ideas. But his sitting on this all summer suggests that he just whacked this out at the last minute. And, as a non-gambler, I can’t see the harm in having slots at the tracks…probably should have been done ten years ago.
Why not just get this done? The exclusivity of the gambling joints makes no sense at all. Give Chicago its crappy casino (please hide it away from the loop though), put a few slots at the tracks and State Fair, and knock one or two of the proposed new casinos out. Next issue.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 8:36 pm:
LUCPARK, I know who you are. I know your name. I know where you live. Your comments are never, ever going to get through. If I were you, I would not persist with these attempts.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 8:56 pm:
===How would you expect a governor who is treated as irrelevant to act?”===
The General Assembly asked for it, they begged for it, and they got it. MAYBE Gov. Quinn would have preferred to have been consulted along the way, as opposed to BEING 100% CUT OUT!!!
Ya think?
Since owning a casino license is almost as sure of being hugely profitable as leasing a printing press in the U.S. Mint, and since the casinos are ALREADY subsidizing the tracks, what’s wrong with bleeding them just a little bit more to fatten up the purses? The tracks can drum up their own fans. And if people are less and less interested, that’s how capitalism is supposed to work, right?
- Mighty M. Mouse - Tuesday, Oct 18, 11 @ 9:30 pm:
Darn!! I should have CAPITALIZED “capitalism” in my last sentence. I always think of these things too late!