Today’s quotable
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Illinois AFL-CIO is misidentified here, but I’m more interested in Link’s quote…
One of the state’s largest labor unions urged lawmakers to pass an expanded gambling bill in the waning days of the 2019 session, saying it would not only create new jobs in Illinois but would provide needed funding for a multi-billion-dollar capital improvements plan.
“Illinois is recovering from the trauma of four years of budget impasse, starving out vital services, and a public works stagnation,” Michael Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO, said during a Statehouse news conference Tuesday. “An expansion of gaming will help fund much-needed infrastructure construction and be a shot in the arm for revenue for this state.”
The biggest obstacle to passing a gambling measure this year, however, is that with only three days left in the regular session, the bill still hasn’t been written.
“We have 80 hours to go. What are you worried about?” quipped Sen. Terry Link, D-Indian Creek, one of the lead supporters of expanded gambling in the Senate. “The bill is being drafted. It’s not like this is all new concepts. We’re working off of bills we’ve done in the past. We’re tweaking. We’re changing them around a lot.”
What, me worry?
* Related…
* Gambling expansion pieces still coming together, but supporters bet on passage
* Some Lawmakers and Union Members Advocate for Walker’s Bluff Resort
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 12:17 pm:
So sports wagering is new, but basically Link is right. Most observers understand the various pieces of this puzzle. The question is, which pieces will be included and how they fit together.
The longer a proposal is out there, the more time opponents have to work against it. I’m pretty sure this effort has all four caucuses, the Governor’s office, and many stakeholders working together. It may not end up as an “agreed bill,” but I’ll be it’s close.
If not, it’s just as likely to collapse under its own weight and a stand-alone sports wagering bill might make it out. Time will tell, but my gut tells me this will be a bi-partisan bill, perhaps the only truly bi-partisan vote this week.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 12:23 pm:
–“We have 80 hours to go. What are you worried about?” quipped Sen. Terry Link, D-Indian Creek, one of the lead supporters of expanded gambling in the Senate.–
Such urgency from “lead-supporter” Link may explain how that Waukegan casino came to be.
- Retired educator - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 12:29 pm:
If the gambling bill doesn’t pass now I don’t think one ever will be passed. It is very much needed for a source of revenue. I think the penalty box move of 3 years to 18 months is a good compromise.
- WaukGirl - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
The only ones who want a Waukegan casino are the politicians who received Tap Room funding for the campaigns. Unfortunately this is the mayor and majority of city council members. the citizens are firmly CasiNO
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 12:32 pm:
===If the gambling bill doesn’t pass now I don’t think one ever will be passed===
Sigh.
Some things are never meant to be, while some just take time. Ask any Cub fan.
- Former State Worker - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 12:33 pm:
Sure Terry. 80 hours to go when you’ve had months to get this stuff drafted up and put to a vote. Nothing to worry about.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 12:34 pm:
===The only ones who want a Waukegan casino are the politicians who received Tap Room funding===
LOL
Did you just ride into town? Link has been pushing that casino ever since he was elected.
- Been There - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 12:50 pm:
===The only ones who want a Waukegan casino ….====
It doesn’t necessarily have to go into Waukegan. Not sure what they will put in this bill but the last one had it going into Lake County. And before that one he had everyone looking on Google Maps to see where the heck Park City is.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 12:51 pm:
Lets see….Dan Reitz lobbies for Walkers Bluff. Son gets appointed state rep. Noone gives son snowballs chance
…hmmmm.
- OneMan - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 1:03 pm:
As WBEZ and ProPublica have pointed out, doing gaming legistation at the last minute without a lot of time to review it has lead to some issues. I wish someone would explain to me why we need to govern like this.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 1:07 pm:
===doing gaming legistation at the last minute without a lot of time to review===
Video gaming was indeed drafted and passed quite quickly without much if any lead-in time. Most of this other stuff has been on the table for decades. Some of it has been negotiated for months. It’s not apples to apples.
Also, the big problems with video gaming included a lawsuit from a cigar company that halted the process and a Gaming Board that deliberately dragged its feet on implementation.
- Been There - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 1:22 pm:
===Also, the big problems with video gaming included a lawsuit from a cigar company===
And don’t forget the deep pocket Wirtz and their liquor lawsuit. Unless that was part of the same suit as the cigar company.
- Transplant - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 1:38 pm:
Rich, what is the basis for the assertion the gaming bird dragged its feet? I read the pro publica articles, and the very first one harped on the agency being understaffed and overburdened, with basically no increase in staffing.
(And now I wonder if the same thing will happen with sports betting)
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 1:40 pm:
===I read the pro publica articles, and the very first one harped on the agency being understaffed and overburdened===
Overblown.
- Hughes1967 - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 2:21 pm:
Expansion of gaming SB 516 the process is from the same playbook “2009 the Video Gaming Act” The Gov and Legislators should read the following story about their fellow members and leader.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2019/5/28/18639029/illinois-video-gambling-tax-hike-decided-lawmakers-financial-ties-industry
Illinois video gambling tax hike will be decided by lawmakers with financial ties to the industry
As video gambling has grown in the state, so have the industry’s links to lawmakers.
- OneMan - Wednesday, May 29, 19 @ 3:04 pm:
Yeah they did drag their feet on implementation, when you look at a map and you see how it got rolled out two things emerge, it took a while and it started in Springfield. Heck for a while the head of the gaming board seemed to dislike gaming which is an interesting viewpoint for any regulator.
But overal the bill had some other issues including overly optimisitc revenue projections (a blogger commented on it at the time) and not enough of a cut for local governments that time in the process would have helped with.
Yes, parts of the current gaming proposal have been talked about for a long time, but the sports betting stuff is rather new and still in flux. The ‘80 hours’ gives folks a chance to get their cut as it were, but I fear that the bigger picture on issues seems to be ignored a bit in crunch time.