* Last week, Gov. Pat Quinn’s press office issued this statement about the gaming expansion bill…
Governor Quinn looks forward to moving past the political games and towards sincere negotiations to reach a legitimate proposal that meets the framework he laid out to protect the interests of the people of Illinois.
* I highlighted “sincere negotiations” because of what Gov. Quinn said today when asked about the gaming bill…
“I don’t think the word ‘negotiate’ is appropriate. I have laid out a framework. OK. They know what it is. It’s crystal clear. If the General Assembly wants to take that guideline and use it to guide their work, so be it.”
Audio…
So, Quinn offers to negotiate last week in order to stop the Senate from handing him yet another embarrassing defeat, but this week tells legislators to take it or leave it.
And he wonders why he’s having so much trouble with the General Assembly?
* Raw audio of today’s complete presser…
*** UPDATE *** The governor’s office has been saying they believe, via backchannel reports, that the racetrack owners would take a subsidy instead of slots at tracks. But Dick Duchossois’ mouthpiece says no way…
The state’s biggest horse racing track is rejecting a plan to give it a big subsidy in lieu of slot machines — the latest bump for the gambling expansion bill that’s been snagged by Springfield wrangling. […]
A prior subsidy plan was stymied for years because it was linked to the state’s ill-fated 10th casino license, which got caught in a decade-long legal dispute after regulators balked at putting the 10th riverboat casino in Rosemont.
The subsidy “never materialized,” Mr. Serafin says, and any new subsidy plan surely would be challenged in court, too, perhaps for many years.
“We don’t want the subsidy,” Mr. Serafin says. “All we want is a level playing field . . . (and) the right to run our business as a business.”
So much for that idea.
- Dirt Digger - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:44 am:
Anyone who actually believed he was sincere should contact me, i have some awesome moneymaking opportunities regarding super-aquatic transportation investment.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:48 am:
Sigh. I think Quinn would have made a good U.S. Senator. Executive is a whole nother ballgame.
- walkinfool - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:55 am:
I’m not sure PQ or his staff know how to negotiate legislative issues. They know how to criticize, but not how to engage with the right people over time,to deliberately work out and resolve differences.
Focused discussions should start before the veto is even issued. If the gov knows enough about what he wants to write an AV, then negotiations should start immediately so that his concerns can be fully explored. A simple override, without alternative legislative language ready to be formally offered by the time the GA meets, is a fail for both sides.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:06 pm:
==Executive is a whole nother ballgame.==
Yes, it is. And what gets me is, did we not all have a pretty darn good inkling of this problem in his performance during the time he assumed the governorship from Rod–and BEFORE he was elected to his own full term?
Did people who voted for him think the leopard would change its spots? Did they think an old dog could be taught new tricks? Sure, I know certain groups supported him thinking he would in turn support them. But did they not see that the executive competency issue could later lessen his impact and value to them, too?
- Dirty Red - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:13 pm:
What do you do to relieve frustration when the wall is already full of holes? I’m open to suggestions.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:26 pm:
We have had remarkably poor choices for the top exec in recent elections. What is it about the Office of Governor that no one worth putting in the the position seems to want it?
- Irish - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:42 pm:
“Governor Quinn” and “sincere negotitations should never come together in any article. It is an oxymoron with emphasis on the last two syllables. Ask the state employees who kept up their half of the agreement in the union contract and in the agreement to save the State money to prevent layoffs. We see how sincere the Gov. was on both of those agreements. Does this mean that those employees who took furlough days to prevent loss of raises or layoffs get those days paid for? Seems to me that would be the fair thing to do.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:56 pm:
=I think Quinn would have made a good U.S. Senator=
Yeah, we could call him the Quinnfisher.
- Spliff - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:58 pm:
the senate should deny Jaffe’s re-appointment to chair the gaming authority and then override the veto. They will probably pick up some folks who hate quinn more and more as the days go on.
- bored now - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:00 pm:
Responsa: i had no expectation that “the leopard” would change its spots; i had full expectations that pat quinn would be a superior governor to bill brady. those expectations have been fully met…
- PQ's Primary Opponent - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:14 pm:
me thinks the Senate President will be very committed to getting 40 and 80 on any gaming over ride.. What is the sense of being Pat Quinn unless you act like Pat Quinn???
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:29 pm:
With Quinn, the sincerity expires 15 seconds after each statement.
- Because I say so... - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:34 pm:
I thought that here in the Land of Lincoln, Governor Quinn was all about J-O-B-S! If he is, sit yourself down at the table and make this bill work. It’s a J-O-B-S generating bill Governor!
- RetiredStateEmployee - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:56 pm:
If Quinn is a “superior” governor compared to Bill Brady, we in Illinois are setting the bar below ground level. Quinn was a disappointment and continues to be. The voters get what they deserve, unfortunately.
- somehave issues - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:59 pm:
==”I’m not sure PQ or his staff know how to negotiate legislative issues.”==
thats a good point. Can anyone tell me, is there anyone on the Gov.’s staff who has experience with the Legislature? (anything- former staffers, non profit directors, whatever)
- Cutler Fan - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:39 pm:
In this day and age, it’s hard to envision an industry preferring a government compelled subsidy over the ability to be competitive and grow on its own. Glad the tracks are shooting down the idea.
- soccermom - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:03 pm:
somehave — Um, does the name Julie Hamos ring a bell? she knows a little about the legislature. Jerry Stermer had a bit of experience as the head of Voices for Illinois Children. Lindsay Hansen Anderson has McGuireWoods and, oh yes, Speaker Madigan’s office on her resume. (there are lots more, but you get the idea.) So the answer to your question is, yes there is. ..
- PQ's Primary Opponent - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:33 pm:
It is not a problem with the staff. The Gov only listens to that little bird in his head..
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:37 pm:
Agreed.
- Jaded - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:38 pm:
Backchannel reports!? Quinn’s office wouldn’t know a “backchannel report” if it bit them in the “backchannel.”
Amateur hour.
Bottom line is no matter how inexperienced his staff his (and yes soccermom I know most of their resumes too) he doesn’t listen to them anyway, so it’s not really their fault.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:38 pm:
To expand, some members of his staff are quite good. He’s obviously not listening.
- 618er - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:41 pm:
facepalm….
- somehave issues - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:41 pm:
soccermom- thanks! I’d forgotten (already) about Hamos. On the other hand, when she left the Leg she wasn’t exactly MJM’s favorite at that point.
The others I’m not familar with (thats why I asked - havent been there in a long time) but I’m sure PQ’s PO is correct…not a staff problem, a Quinn problem. Even if he is getting good advice, it wouldn’t matter a whit.
- Damfunny - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 4:54 pm:
People still go to horse races???
Duch’ would make a better return by bulldozing Arlington and build a new Wrigley!
- Coach - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 4:55 pm:
I hate to say it but I did vote for Gov. Quinn. If he doesn’t change his mind and Vote for SB740 then he has lost my vote forever. He says he is all about jobs but yet he is willing to lose 40, 000 jobs in the horse racing industry and the additional jobs this bill will provide. He wants money to pay off on the debt but yet does not want the 1.4 billion this bill will provide at the start. He wants more revenue but does not want the $500,000 this bill will bring in each year! Gov. Quinn you say this bill is top heavy but yet you turn around and add 5 more casinos to the bill you want! Gov. Quinn look at at the posts or comments in all the newspapers concerning the SB740 you are being blasted at a about 90 % in favor of the bill! You said you wanted to hear from the people of Illinois and they are telling you but you just won’t listen. A person in your office told me the phone calls were 80 to 20 in favor of SB740! Please listen to the people for once and vote yes to SB740! You sound like you are on the take by the Casino companies!
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 4:59 pm:
Coach, the governor doesn’t “vote” for bills.
- Coach - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 5:05 pm:
Ok Rich poor choice of words then how about just SIGN THE BILL INTO LAW!
- Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 6:02 pm:
Coach; not only does the Governor not vote for bills, he can only sign or veto those that are sent to him, and thus far no casino bill has been sent to him for him to act on.
Irrespective of that; I don’t believe that SB740 is going to get you what you want anyway, as that particular bill serves to amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act.
I think you would be better off advocating for SB744.
- Ruby - Wednesday, Nov 2, 11 @ 1:50 pm:
The two racinos in Indiana have slot machines. Both of Indiana’s racinos have filed for bankruptcy. For the past few years gambling revenue has declined in Illinois and in Indiana. The gambling industry is in decline throughout the USA and does not provide a reliable source of government revenue.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 2, 11 @ 1:57 pm:
Ruby, those two Indy racinos went live in the summer of 2008, when the world’s economy crashed into dust. Both borrowed heavily to buy state licenses for $250 million each, and neither is anywhere near Chicago.
They’ve since proved in court that they were unfairly overtaxed by the state, worth $30 million a year.