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Chuckles all around

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Illinois

* From the governor’s budget address…

For example, any enhancement that we enact to gaming revenues this year should be dedicated to education, which could include teachers’ pensions.

Of course, gaming expansion has to be done right. It must have tough ethical standards, a campaign contribution ban on casino operators, and no loopholes for mobsters.

That last line about “no loopholes for mobsters” was followed by several seconds of laughter, even when Quinn tried to move on to another topic. Have a listen…

Click to listen

* This isn’t the first time Quinn has used that line, but apparently many legislators hadn’t heard it before, judging by their reaction. From July 31st of last year…

On Tuesday, he told WBEZ’s Steve Edwards on The Afternoon Shift that politicians should avoid campaign contributions from the gaming industry.

“We’re not gonna have any loopholes for mobsters, no way,” Quinn said. “We gotta make sure things are airtight when it comes to integrity on gambling period.”

Apparently, mobster gamblers like to write checks to campaign funds.

* Moving right along…

Quinn’s earlier veto messages cited a lack of oversight for new gaming operations, particularly a Chicago casino, and a desire to earmark the resulting new revenue for education. The governor early in his term also objected to adding slots at tracks but more recently seems to have accepted that as a necessary part of any compromise over gaming expansion.

Keeping the issue fresh, a Senate committee met shortly after Quinn’s speech and approved a measure that—like the two Quinn has vetoed—would authorize slot machines for Illinois race tracks, a new land-based casino in downtown Chicago and four other new casinos at strategic sites around the state.

Supporters said they believe legislation can be crafted to meet the governor’s ethical and educational goals.

More…

The profits generated from the expansion would be allocated to education. That’s an idea Gov. Pat Quinn hinted he’d support during Wednesday’s budget speech. Quinn recently vetoed two gambling expansions, calling for more ethical protections.

The internet profits would be split with some going toward the state’s public pension systems.

The proposal authorizes slot machines at Midway and O’Hare international airports.

The bill is SB1739.

More…

A mere year from now, Quinn faces a potentially tough primary challenge, and resolving the intractable, budget-gobbling pension issue, even if it involved a gambling deal, could be a good line on his leadership resume.

Rep. Lou Lang, the Skokie Democrat pushing gambling expansion, said he was “not opposed” to dedicating some new gambling revenue to teacher pensions. But, Lang said, the state has “lots of needs” and could use that money to pay for construction projects, overdue bills or education.

Supporters said the proposal could generate as much as $400 million a year for education, though Quinn has previously opposed slots at tracks and airports. The bill also would create a new regulatory body to oversee Internet-based gambling, with the hope of generating at least $50 million a year that could be put into the pension system. Gambling interests would be banned from making campaign contributions and a gambling inspector general would be added under a bill sponsored by Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan. […]

“I believe that a gaming plan that is structured to address the ethical and regulatory concerns of Gov. Quinn can be part of a new revenue mix,” Cullerton said.

* Meanwhile, video gaming naysayers who pointed to the large number of communities opting out of the law are probably scratching their heads now that towns are starting to realize they’re missing out on serious money…

Following a trend throughout the Chicago suburbs, Elgin officials have taken steps toward reversing the city’s ban on video gambling.

The Elgin City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to allow taverns and other eligible liquor license holders to have video poker machines, reversing a 1981 ban. Officials must approve the measure once more at a meeting in two weeks before it is final.

As recently as last summer, City Council members were largely against the practice. But the growing presence of video gambling in neighboring towns’ businesses prompted them to change their minds. […]

Elgin isn’t the first to have a change of heart. Nearly 50 local governing bodies had changed their minds as of last month, including Aurora, a fellow Kane County city that also hosts a casino. A Tribune analysis found that trend extends beyond the metro area with cities including DeKalb, Carbondale and Moline reversing bans.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 11:25 am

Comments

Remember Quinn does come from the 36th Ward.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 11:37 am
While not speaking about the rest of Illinois, federal
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-06-20/news/ct-met-spilotro-slayings-20110620_1_chicago-mob-landmark-family-secrets-mob-mob-conspiracy-trial

and state
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2005-11-30/news/win-lose-die/

investigations have shown that in the two largest population centers of Illinois, video gambling has a significant organized crime presence.

Comment by Anyone Remember? Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 11:39 am
–video gambling has a significant organized crime presence.–

They sure do, where its illegal, unlicensed and unregulated.

They Outfit used to be big in the booze business — until repeal of the Volstead Act. They used to run the Policy Wheel numbers game — until the lottery. And illegal casinos were not unheard of in the area — until legal ones came on.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 11:44 am
Quinn is right on this one. While mob influence might be waning and evolving over time, continued vigilance is required. To laugh it away is either blind or cynical.

Comment by walkinfool Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 11:44 am
===investigations have shown that in the two largest population centers of Illinois, video gambling has a significant organized crime presence.====

That’s a good reason for legalization. You posted about illegal operations. Big difference.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 11:45 am
I’m guessing the governors political coffers would be significantly lighter without the contributions from casino’s.
Should every regulated industry in Illinois be banned from political contributions?

Comment by Because I said so... Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 12:07 pm
Compared to what the politicians take, the Outfit cut is small potatoes. Read Russo’s “The Outfit” to understand that corruption did not start with organized crime, they only copied what big business and the politicians were already doing. How many of his competitor’s oil wells did Rockefeller have blown up?

Comment by funny guy Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 12:24 pm
The Peoria bust shined (shone?) a big light on the illegal video gaming business. Thanks to this law, the state only had to find the unlicensed machines to bring charges, not to find illegal payouts.

1200 illegal video poker games are now permanently off-line in Peoria, helping to create a market for legal games where the state can take its cut. Exactly as designed.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 12:37 pm
Serious question, especially in light of Citizens United:

Is there any industry that is prohibited from making campaign contributions other than the gaming industry?

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 12:39 pm
The real joke line was that the income would be devoted to the schools.

We were told that about the lottery, too. And then the income from taxes devoted to the schools was cut dollar-for-dollar to match the income from the lottery devoted to the schools.

Comment by Frank Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 12:43 pm
Elgin righteously bans gambling. Runs into a financial jam and conveinently develops an alternative philosophy when revenues do not meet the current costs.

Captain Renault would be so proud.

Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 2:05 pm
Frank -

I’d always heard, when it was all said and done, it was more than a dollar that was cut for each dollar from the Lottery.

Comment by Anyone Remember? Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 2:18 pm
There need to be strict ethical restrictions attached to the Bill and those “legislators” who chuckled should be ashamed for mocking a responsible, right-minded proposal to keep as much mob association to the Casinos in our Backyards as far away as feasible! When ya hear garbage like that, ya just gotta wonder why it’s SO gargantuan a task sometimes to see the Legislature ever pass a responsible reform measure in Illinois!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 5:28 pm
Why do we need a new bureaucracy to oversee Internet gaming?
Is PQ conceding that his current bureaucracy moves about as fast as a pig through Squeezy?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 8:31 pm