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* The House Executive Committee voted today to move a proposal to the floor which allows video gaming in bars and restaurants that have off-track betting parlors in them. The new trend is to put the OTBs into large entertainment centers, so the proposal would ensure that those facilities were not put at a disadvantage against other bars and restaurants in the area, according to its sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang.
Rep. Bob Biggins asked a most unusual question during the committee’s debate, however. Watch…
* Meanwhile, the disinformation campaign against the main video poker “trailer bill” is still in full force. From the Sun-Times…
(T)he Illinois Senate has passed a bill that also passed out of a House committee on Monday. The bill would take away the board’s discretion, allowing it to bar only those who are convicted of a gambling-related felony.
The reality, Jaffe says, is that most of those caught dabbling in illegal video poker wind up convicted only of lesser charges.
“I am absolutely opposed to what the Legislature is trying to do,” Jaffe says. “They are taking away discretion from the board. It gives an exemption to people who have been involved in criminal activity.”
It’s absolutely not true that the bill would “bar only those who are convicted of a gambling-related felony” from having a video poker license. The bill actually says anyone convicted of any violation of Article 28 of the Criminal Code of 1961 is a disqualification. Article 28 also includes several misdemeanor penalties.
Also, I’ve talked to several people who swear on their mother that Jaffe’s own Gaming Board staff signed off on this video poker bill in order to bring some clarity to how tavern owners and fraternal organizations like the VFW could be denied a license.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 26, 10 @ 10:42 am
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Legalizing prostitution would clean up a lot of crime and be revenue generating….I have wondered why legalizing marijuana has always been pushed harder then this topic.
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, May 26, 10 @ 10:49 am
I couldn’t tell — was Biggins for or against it?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 26, 10 @ 10:58 am
If prostitution was included in the bill, would it also include a provision enacting the “Gross Receipts Tax”??
Comment by South of I-80 Wednesday, May 26, 10 @ 11:12 am
I dunno if this is snark, or being worried, or just plain confused … but is Bob Biggins ok?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 26, 10 @ 11:18 am
OW, I kind of wondered the same to be honest with you and I wasnt’ being snarky………
and I dont’ think I’ll put Jim Sacia on my list of nice people…….
Comment by I'm Just Saying Wednesday, May 26, 10 @ 11:19 am
Whoever videotaped sounds like they were sitting next to Molaro. You can hear someone (I think MOlaro) saying “why do you want to know? what’s your interest” in a snarky way after Biggins asks his question the 3rd time… Ha!
Comment by dupage progressive Wednesday, May 26, 10 @ 11:50 am
Biggins is just confirming what everyone under the dome has known for some time. He is truely in bad shape. I feel sorry for him because he is not all there.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, May 26, 10 @ 12:14 pm
The bill Jaffe opposes narrowly defines existing language in the Gaming Act so only those with a criminal conviction may be excluded. Rather than those who “facilitated, enabled or participated in” illegal payouts with their video poker machines.
Comment by cicero Wednesday, May 26, 10 @ 12:53 pm
Biggins was right on in his comment. I’m wondering how many years or months it will be before Lang is advancing language to tax prostitution using all the same arguments for pot and gambling - it’s already there - lets legalize it and tax it. How sad for him. Biggins knows what is going on.
Comment by Joke Wednesday, May 26, 10 @ 4:50 pm
I think instead of prostitution he meant to say “Democratic fundraisers” …freudian slip
Comment by PFK Wednesday, May 26, 10 @ 11:11 pm
Biggins is to be commended for being one of only two “NO” votes in committee on allowing 24-hour gambling at truck-stops (rejected by the Gambling Board for gambling casinos, which do not cater specifically to those who will angrily enter the public roadways with killing machines after an hours-long losing binge) and requiring a conviction in order to be denied a license for gambling machines.
Comment by antigambler Thursday, May 27, 10 @ 6:47 am