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* No campaign contribution ban from casinos, no stronger oversight of the Chicago casino all adds up to no signature on a gaming bill, says Quinn…
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says he won’t sign a gambling expansion bill in exchange for a promise that legislators will pass an ethics measure in the fall.
Quinn made the comment Monday at a ceremony during which he signed a measure into law that expands a tax credit program for businesses that hire veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
* Raw audio of the governor’s comments…
* Tribune…
Also Monday, a business and labor group pushing the gambling expansion sent Quinn a letter saying they support his call for tighter ethics controls, including limits on campaign contributions. It’s the first time the Illinois Revenue and Jobs Alliance has expressed support for increased ethics measures, and signals the group is willing to work with the governor to make the gambling expansion a reality.
The group wants more gambling to create new jobs and bring in hundreds of millions of dollars more a year to state coffers.
“While not a panacea, gaming expansion would bring desperately needed employment and revenues to Illinois,” wrote Bill Black, a former Republican state representative from downstate Danville who chairs the group. “We submit that Illinois is simply not in a position to say ‘no’ to jobs and revenue, while gaming customers continue to pour into neighboring states.”
But a close reading of the actual letter shows some hedging…
We remain flexible as to the precise language and what ethical guidelines should accompany SB 1849. As a group, we do not endorse one approach over another. But we do support a framework for campaign contribution limits, among other safeguards.
Quinn wants a ban, not just limits.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 12:16 pm
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=== The group wants more gambling to create new jobs and bring in hundreds of millions of dollars more a year to state coffers. ===
Stated as fact by the Tribune - that’s some effective PR by the pro-gambling group.
Comment by Coach Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 12:38 pm
The audio file of Quinn didn’t work.
The Kerner - racetrack fiasco was a long time ago. Lake the Marje Lindheimer’s dough from her inherited tracks, I’m not sure there is a way to keep casino out of the state legislature.
Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 12:42 pm
If I owned a casino - ha ! - I would love to have a ban on all political contributions. I am sure I would get “requests for support” every single day. I already have a license that protects me from competition. I would worry about someone else currying more favor than me with their political contributions. With a ban I keep the money I used to pay out and block others from trying to receive the privileges I receive now. Cool.
Comment by bigdaddygeo Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 12:48 pm
I still don’t understand the gungho desire to hike regressive taxes like this. More casino’s are not good public policy.
Comment by Allen Skillicorn Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 12:55 pm
I don’t have an interest in increasing casinos, but would like to see slots and possibly table games at the tracks so the purses could go up for the horsemen & women.
There is plenty of room for slots and more at local tracks.
Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 12:57 pm
“- Allen Skillicorn - Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 12:55 pm:
I still don’t understand the gungho desire to hike regressive taxes like this. More casino’s are not good public policy.”
You must be a huge fan of the Illinois Lottery expansion, then?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 1:04 pm
===the gungho desire to hike regressive taxes like this===
Taxes are mandatory. Nobody will be forced to go to a casino.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 1:35 pm
Quinn’s complaint is not about ethics. It’s about punishing Craig Duchossois for his political contributions to Bill Brady in 2010. Period.
More phony ethics hot air from Quinn.
Comment by King Louis XVI Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 1:44 pm
A few things are served here:
–Current casinos have less competition. With “Rivers” already up and running, it’s not too hard to imagine the Aurora or one of the Joliet casinos going down with a Chicago casino.
–Quinn’s telling the racetracks that he’s not going to give them slots so that they can use the extra revenues to contribute to his opponents. Duh, Politics 101.
–Emanuel has to twist in the wind. Who’s “Mr. Irrelevant” on this issue?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 1:58 pm
My take? Even Quinn doesn’t trust the legislators. Why should anyone else?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 2:42 pm
Can’t we all get along, at least for the sake of keeping more drivers/trainers/owners from heading to the Meadowlands? The State has lost too many already.
If we all can’t get along, at least make me happier by opening up Balmoral & Maywood to slots and getting those purses higher.
Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 4:03 pm
No meetings on pensions with billions of debt. No work on billions in unpaid bills, but our Governor turns down billions in new revenue for what, artificial reform.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 5:59 pm