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Cullerton says no cellphone while driving ban yet, wants new gaming talks

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* As mentioned below, Sen. John Cullerton held a press conference yesterday to announce that he was nominating Illinois Commerce Commission executive director Tim Anderson to be the new Secretary of the Senate. Reporters asked him several off-topic questions, including about the the National Transportation Safety Board’s urging of states to ban cellphone use while driving…

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, who helped put Illinois’ first seatbelt law on the books in the early 1980s, said Tuesday he doesn’t disagree with a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation that states ban all cellphone use — including hands-free devices — while driving.

But he said he’s unsure Illinois lawmakers are yet ready to take that step.

“I don’t think there is the political support yet to pass that but I think it’s something that might be inevitable,” Cullerton told reporters. “It could be something down the line, but certainly not right away.”

* More…

It “might be inevitable” that Illinois eventually bans the use of cellular phones while people are in cars, Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said Tuesday.

However, Cullerton said it won’t happen immediately. […]

“These are the kinds of things you take incrementally,” he said. “I’ve kind of gotten away from being the main sponsor. … I think that’s something which I’ll leave to the other senators.”

* And via BlueRoomStream.com we have the video…

* Cullerton also answered questions about the stalled gaming bill…

Senate President John Cullerton said Tuesday that he expects lawmakers to take another run at gambling expansion in 2012.

Cullerton took questions from reporters about his legislative agenda at the state Capitol, where he was asked if a gambling plan that included slot machines at Arlington Park and new casinos in Lake County, Chicago and elsewhere was dead.

“No, not at all,” Cullerton said.

The powerful Chicago Democrat said Sen. Terry Link of Waukegan and Rep. Lou Lang of Skokie will have to work with Gov. Pat Quinn to forge a compromise this year.

As I’ve pointed out time and time again over the years, no gaming bill can pass without the governor’s involvement. Quinn either cut himself out or was cut out by legislators during the spring session and that was a big mistake. Then again, Quinn was AWOL last spring on everything. Maybe now he’ll engage.

* Other stuff…

* Hearing requested on Cellini state business

* State hires firm to run video poker monitoring system - Decision points to operations not being ready until near year’s end

* Are investors hungry for new Illinois debt?

* Economic recovery coming?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 4, 12 @ 7:13 am

Comments

Good luck with banning cell phones while driving. Next time you are at any stop light/sign count the number of phones in use you can see. The average will hit every 3-4 cars. Now those little lap dogs for drivers, that’s a problem.

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Jan 4, 12 @ 9:42 am
Regarding the 5.05% rate for Illinois debt: You could sell that debt in smaller increments at 4% or less to Illinois consumers at banks throughout the state in the form of Illinois State Savings Bonds.

Throw in a hookah or toaster for those buying over $1,000 in IL State Bonds.

Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Wednesday, Jan 4, 12 @ 9:43 am
The “texting” law is being widely ignored, why would anyone think that this one would be enforceable? And, if you are driving, and someone calls you, it is awfully hard not to check who is calling, and then, awfully easy to answer. I try not to call while driving, but find it hard not to check incoming calls

Comment by downstate commissioner Wednesday, Jan 4, 12 @ 9:57 am
–As I’ve pointed out time and time again over the years, no gaming bill can pass without the governor’s involvement. Quinn either cut himself out or was cut out by legislators during the spring session and that was a big mistake. –

Unless, of course, he’s satisfied with the status quo. Certainly the folks at Rivers in Des Plaines and the other existing casinos are.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 4, 12 @ 10:51 am
I think the cellphone thing has to be a national or state decision and I tend to support it. I was driving last weekend and town a had a ban, town b did not and there were no signs as you crossed from town b to town a telling you were now in a cell phone ban city.

I could have been ticketed without knowing the law-and how are you supposed to know if town a bans texting but not talking, town b bans everything and town c bans nothing?

We need one national rule or state rule on the issue and that’s it.

Comment by shore Wednesday, Jan 4, 12 @ 12:04 pm
I think a statewide ban on cell use while driving would increase traffic safety. The research clearly shows that cell use does distrct people from focusing on driving.

Sure, many of the towns including Chicago that have the bans still are lagging in terms of adoption, but people do slowly adopt just as they have with seat belts or other changes. Over time, driving will be made safer instead of just accepting cell use as a driving hazard we should push for changes that make driving safer.

Cell phone use while driving is not a right, let’s restrict it as a permitted activity because it is a proven hazard.

Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Jan 4, 12 @ 12:27 pm
Once again the electeds waste time on things that will never go anywhere and are not going to be enforced. How about taking on a tough issue instead of constantly kicking it down the road. This November should be interesting if this continues…

Comment by Rudykzooti Wednesday, Jan 4, 12 @ 1:32 pm
===Once again the electeds waste time on things that will never go anywhere and are not going to be enforced. ===

He was asked a question in a press conference, for crying out loud.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 4, 12 @ 3:13 pm