*** UPDATE 1 *** Illinois Statehouse News has released the full audio of their interview with Chairman Jaffe…

Click to download

They left out a couple of zingers from their story, including these about the General Assembly…

“They don’t want a good regulatory board to interfere with their nonsense.”

“I’m trying to represent the people. I don’t know who they represent.”

Ouch.

* Chairman Jaffe also claimed this change was made to existing law…

“We can’t fingerprint anybody to check their background [at racetracks]… And you can be assured that they’re trying to sneak that in now, so they can do it with regular gaming later.”

That’s absolutely not true. The Racing Board has always had discretion to waive fingerprint requirements. The new proposal deletes the requirement that waivers could be given only to applicants who’ve undergone FBI background checks for licensure. Sen. Terry Link explained the proposal this week…

SB 744 allows the Illinois Racing Board to waive fingerprints in its discretion, but it does not do away with fingerprinting. Under current law, the Illinois Racing Board is required to obtain fingerprints from all horse owners. Illinois is fortunate enough to have hosted high-level races that included horses owned by international dignitaries. However, the way current law is drafted, a horse owned by the Queen of England cannot race in Illinois until Her Majesty the Queen has submitted her fingerprints. SB 744 gives the Illinois Racing Board discretion to waive the fingerprinting requirement in such circumstances.

I’m not sure if that’s everything involved here, of course, but Jaffe’s statement is still false on its face. If he had actually read the bill, he wouldn’t known this because it’s pretty darned clear in the legislation…

*** UPDATE 2 *** ISN has also posted Rep. Lou Lang’s complete interview…

Click to download

[ *** End Of Updates *** ]

* Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe has all but declared war on the legislators who sponsored the gaming expansion bill…

State Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, points to Jaffe’s criticism of legislation that would allow for five new casinos in the state and the slow roll-out of video gambling that was passed back in 2009.

“We have a gaming board that is clearly anti-gaming,” Link said.

Link added that Jaffe has used his position as the state’s top gambling regulator to take a personal stand.

“It’s his job to regulate Illinois gaming industry,” said Link. “It’s not his job to preach.”

But Jaffe said he is doing exactly what he’s supposed to be doing.

“I’m not pushing for anybody or anything. I’m trying to protect the public interest,” Jaffe said. “If lawmakers think they’re representing the public interest, I don’t think they know what they are talking about.” […]

Jaffe said Lang, Link and other critics in the statehouse have questions about their own fairness to answer.

“I don’t know whether they’re acting as legislators, or they’re acting as lobbyists,” said Jaffe. [Emphasis added.]

If Jaffe is reappointed, don’t expect him to survive Senate confirmation. Back in 2009, he said the Gaming Board would probably need a police force the size of the Illinois State Police or the City of Chicago’s to adequately monitor video gaming in taverns…

* Gov. Pat Quinn got off on a tangent (surprise!) yesterday about high speed rail during an unrelated press conference…

He touted a plan for high-speed rail from Chicago to Champaign, which he said could become “a Chicago suburb,” just 50 minutes away by high-speed rail.

Yes, the governor actually said that Champaign could be a Chicago suburb. He was even asked whether he thought Champaign wanted to be a suburb…

Click to download

* Related…

* Gambling regulator again slams gaming bill: “Look, the way the legislature did it was terrible, ” Jaffee said. “They passed it on the last day. Nobody knew what was in it.”

* Mayor predicts Quinn will sign gambling bill, but gov won’t say

* Emanuel ducks gambling chairman’s criticism of Chicago casino bill

* Entities will profit from proposed gaming law