*** UPDATE *** Why the chairman of the Gaming Board would feel a need to express his views on policy issues like slots at tracks and school funding is beyond me, and he doesn’t offer up any other specific criticisms, so we don’t know exactly what so displeases him, but Aaron Jaffe went off on the new gaming bill today…

The state’s top gambling regulator today said a revised gambling package being considered by lawmakers is “a pile of junk” that does little to address concerns outlined by Gov. Pat Quinn.

Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe said the latest proposal making its way through the Capitol would place unrealistic time limits for regulators to vet applicants and “passes out money like popcorn” to various gambling interests.

“These guys never learn,” Jaffe told the Tribune in a phone interview. “It’s basically the same bill, worse in some places, a little better in others, but it’s still a pile of junk. No one really takes into consideration any criticism.”

Jaffe said he doesn’t understand why the bill still contains slot machines for horse racing tracks when Quinn has expressed his opposition, and argued the measure would undermine education because of what he calls a “regressive” tax structure that would allow more successful casinos to pay less.

The director of the Gaming Board was asked to testify at a Senate committee hearing on the new gaming bill today. He said the Gaming Board doesn’t take positions on legislation.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* If, as expected, Gov. Pat Quinn prevents Mayor Emanuel from getting a casino, there’s gonna be trouble with a capital “T”…

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he believes the state is close to passing a bill that could put a casino in the city. […]

Emanuel said he’s had multiple conversations with Governor Pat Quinn about the revised bill says the plan is a good compromise.

“I think it reflects what I call an honest compromise to finally move forward and close up a point of discussion for 25 years and achieve a win for the people of the city of Chicago and the taxpayers,” Emanuel said Tuesday.

I’d like to have been a fly on the wall during those “multiple conversations” between the two.

Oy.

* The Sun-Times is also on board…

We are disappointed that the bill does not include a ban on campaign donations from gaming interests and, like Quinn, we’d like to see a change in the legislation that authorizes video poker in taverns and restaurants.

Municipalities should have to vote to opt into video poker in their communities, rather the current requirement that they have to vote to opt out.

Rep. Lou Lang, the bill’s sponsor, called the new gaming bill a “good faith effort to comply with many of concerns” of the original bill.

We agree. Now it’s Gov. Quinn’s turn to compromise.

* Jamey Dunn has lots of details…

SB 1849 does not include a controversial provision that called for the Gaming Board to issue temporary licenses within 60 days of application to bars and restaurants seeking video gaming. The proposal was meant to spur the board to implement video gaming, which was approved as part of the funding for the state’s capital construction plan. So far, no licenses have been issued and no revenue from video gambling has come in.

Lang said some lawmakers were uncomfortable with issuing the temporary licenses. His new bill calls for the board to begin implementing video poker before any new casinos can be licensed and before horse tracks can get a license for a permanent location for slots. However, they would be able to operate out of a temporary facility, such as a tent. Lang said he wanted to ensure that the board did not “skip over” video poker to begin work on a gaming expansion. “That could be one machine, it could be 10,000 machines, but they’ve got to get it up and running.”

* Lou states the obvious…

State Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, told a legislative panel Tuesday morning that his new plan is the best chance now for Illinois to expand gambling and tap into the billions of dollars in revenue the new casinos would generate.

“If we don’t make it happen this week — because of getting into a new session, because of the primary election, because of all sort of things — it is clear to me that we won’t have a gaming (plan) to vote on until next April or May,” Lang said.

* Anybody up for a Lou Lang caption contest?…

Keep it clean, people. As always, try to elevate yourselves. Thanks.

       

51 Comments - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:18 am: “The Gaming Bill will pass. I’m going to make Governor Quinn an offer he can’t refuse …” - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:24 am: “I think we BOTH know how you’re gonna vote … don’t we?” “You know what I like … “green” lights for my bills, understand?” “I really liked your testimony today … but I am counting on your vote tomorrow” “Mayor Emanuel called me. He said, “Make a list of all the ‘Mushrooms’ against this bill. Are you against Mayor Emanuel?” “I’m Lou Lang. I passed bills like this when you were going out with cheerleaders.” - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:25 am: “Go like ‘this’ … yep, you have lettuce in your teeth” - How Ironic - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:25 am: Leave the slots compromise…take the cannoli. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:26 am: “It was you, Fredo, I know it was you. You broke my heart.” - Aldyth - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:26 am: Oswego Willy, I cannot resist. Thanks for the inspiration. “The Gaming Bill will pass. I’m going to make Governor Quinn an offer he can’t refuse…” “But, sir, how will any of us understand the Governor’s response when he accepts?” - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:27 am: word … Very.Well.Played. Check and Mate. - Boone Logan Square - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:28 am: “Someday, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me.” - Old Shepherd - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:29 am: “I must break you.” - Timmeh - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:31 am: “What’s that on your nose?” - walkinfool - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:34 am: You’re saying NO, but we both know you mean YES. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:37 am: Now this is my Larry David impression. Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good, hunh? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:37 am: “You wanna know how to get Pat Quinn? Quinn pulls a bill, you pull an amendment. He sends one of your bills to Veto Session, you send one of his into Exec… *That’s* the *Springfield* way! And that’s how you get Pat Quinn. Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that? I’m offering you a deal. Do you want this deal?” - the Patriot - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:51 am: This bill is yet another shift of downstate revenue to Chicago. Downstate boats will take a major hit on this bill. If you are a legislator south of I 80 and you vote for this you are an idiot. If you are a voter south of I 80 and you vote for a democrat, you are the same. - Poilitical Junkie - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:54 am: Nice Untouchables reference Oswego willy - Aristotle - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 10:59 am: “You want a job, don’t you?” - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 11:00 am: ===This bill is yet another shift of downstate revenue to Chicago.=== New casino in Danville and Rockford. Not sure what downstate casinos are gonna lose revenue to Chicago. Do Chicagoans drive to Peoria to gamble? - stuckinthemiddlewithyou - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 11:05 am: Sung by Lang as they waltz to the Elvis tune..”It’s now or never……my darling…. Tomorrow will be to late….. My gambling bill won’t wait…. - Stones - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 11:18 am: Don’t you think I look like Robert Duvall? - JistMe - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 11:30 am: For this dance I lead & you follow. - just sayin' - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 11:41 am: If an Eskimo kiss is what it takes to get your vote on this gambling bill, let’s light this candle. - friend of a friend - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 11:57 am: I told ya buddy, I’ve got the Motts, I’ve got the Motts! - ah HA - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 11:58 am: “I will bury you” - Das Man - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 11:59 am: ==Municipalities should have to vote to opt into video poker in their communities, rather the current requirement that they have to vote to opt out== I would agree with that, and SB 747 had introduced that change, but SB 1849 seemingly leaves it out. Even worse, it takes note of the following: “That more than 50 municipalities and 5 counties have opted out of video gaming legislation that was enacted by the 96th General Assembly as Public Act 96-34, and revenues for the State’s newly approved capital construction program are on track to fall short of projections.” (Article 90, line 22, page 38) Which I take to mean that those communities which have already opted out remain off the hook with this new bill, leaving the rest of the state to carry the water. LANG: “You think I’m short?’ - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 12:23 pm: “If this isn’t the best gaming bill I’ve ever seen, my name isn’t Speaker Lang…um, never mind” - Cook County Commoner - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 12:28 pm: “Ya wanna know a sure bet? If this gaming bill passes, I’ll finally have enough dough to move out of Skokie and this stinking state.” - TaDa - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 12:38 pm: Kiss me. I’m Irish ! - CircularFiringSquad - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 12:49 pm: It is a funny world Footdraggin Jaffe bags off on something he knows little about, but the EPA refuses to take a position the policy of tougher pollution standards for coal fired power plants - x ace - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 12:54 pm: We knocked out the stuff prohibiting campaign contributions from the casinos and tracks . We gotta pass this now. It’s #*#*#ing Golden ! - zatoichi - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 1:00 pm: …with some fava beans and a nice chianti. - OneMan - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 1:23 pm: Wow, what a surprise the happiest gaming regulator in America(tm) has issues with the gaming bill. Considering the time it is taking to implement video poker in this state by the time any gaming bill got implemented a new form of entertainment might be around. - Springfield Skeptic - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:02 pm: It’s this shoulder, right? Here, let me massage that for you. - Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:02 pm: Probably not enough of a budget increase for Jaffe in it. - anon - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:07 pm: Who is running the State of Illinois? Pat Quinn or Aaron Jaffe? - Gator - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:18 pm: I’m confused. The Gaming Board spokesperson told the Senate Executive Committee that the Board has not had time to review the bill. So Jaffe is rebuking a bill that he hasn’t even read yet? Why does that not surprise me? - jt - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:33 pm: Put $20 on number 5 in the 6th race. - OneMan - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:38 pm: Voice Over: When he hears the word Poker he has to leave the room… He once refused to do a school report about General John Pershing because his nickname was ‘Blackjack’. When he flies to California he does it via Washington State just to avoid flying over Nevada… He is… The unhappiest gaming regulator in the world. Jaffe: I don’t always have time to review gaming legislation before I decide, but I always decide I don’t like it. Stay unhappy my random acquaintance. - Jake From Elwood - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:42 pm: You got to know when to hold em’, know when to fold em’, know when to walk away, know when to run. It is time to run. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:50 pm: OneMan, that was your best comment ever. - TTWSYF - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:00 pm: Rich Miller: “I’d like to have been a fly on the wall during those “multiple conversations” between the two. (Emanuel & Quinn)” Rich desires to expand his vocabulary. - Stooges - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:30 pm: “And I told the Governor - hold on, I got a sneeze coming on” Jaffe is a buffoon. He is so adamantly opposed to this expansion idea, you’d think he’s lobbying for the existing casinos. Hmmmm. - siriusly - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 4:02 pm: “Yeah, I used to do the comb-forward too.” - Jaded - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 4:28 pm: “Defeated the Giant, inconceivable!” - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 4:44 pm: I won’t even try to “game” OneMan or word. Great work, guys. - OneMan - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 4:45 pm: Thanks - Siyotanka - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 4:48 pm: Why Yes my son… I do look like a very young Yogi Berra…. - Soccermom - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 5:31 pm: OneMan that was awesome - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 5:47 pm: - Aldyth… Glad I can inspire you with a quote … word and OneMan … well done! - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 5:47 pm: that was me … sorry - reformer - Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 8:49 pm: “The answer to every problem is more gambling.” To a man whose only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. - OLD GUARD - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 12:38 am: Can you believe those Cardinals won the whole flippin thing again. Thank God Rich won’t post anything about it on Capitol Fax ! Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.