* This is a very useful fact check of Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) by the BGA…

“They wanted lower taxes paid to the state [by the Chicago casino owner] and higher taxes paid to the city,” state Sen. Dave Syverson of Rockford told WCIA’s Mark Maxwell in a sit-down at the capitol, which aired Dec. 8. “The amount of taxes would be the same, but Chicago wanted to keep more of it.” […]

Speaking about a proposal to change the tax structure for a future Chicago casino, Syverson said the plan would lower taxes paid by the casino to the state and increase the taxes it pays to the city so that the overall amount would be the same but Chicago would “keep more of it.”

That doesn’t entirely square with the language of the bill. As he said, it would have reduced tax revenue for the state — but it also would have lowered taxes paid to the city.

Syverson conceded that last point in response to our inquiry.

We rate his claim Half True.

Syverson repeatedly bad-mouthed that Chicago casino bill during the veto session and, as this fact-check shows, he used inaccurate arguments to do so. It’s not all that surprising since Rockford locked in its casino last spring and any competition, even from a city 90 miles away, would be unwelcome.

But it’s just one more thing to add to Syverson’s curiously strong all-out push to convince local leaders to approve the Hard Rock Casino’s proposal.

*** UPDATE *** Rockford is a small city, so these sorts of ties are to be expected. The Hard Rock’s plan would’ve probably won out anyway, so Syverson should’ve just stayed in the background, especially considering these trying federal times. His heavy public support means he’s very easily tied to the winning bidder and these ties look horrible…