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* There are more problems with the Senate’s gaming bill than just the fact that the notorious Shaw organization might end up with a piece of the pie. The Post-Dispatch fills us in on one aspect…

The Pennsylvania-based owners of the Argosy Casino at Alton have given Illinois politicians almost a half-million dollars in the past three years.

On Thursday, Illinois Senate leaders who got much of that money were poised to give something back: A change in state law that will let the company keep the casino, overruling state gambling regulators who’d ordered the company to sell.

Legislation filed Thursday would change state gaming law specifically for the benefit of one company: Penn National Gaming of Wyomissing, Pa., which owns the Argosy and two other Illinois casinos in Aurora and Joliet. […]

“This is the attitude of the casinos: If the (Illinois) Gaming Board doesn’t do what they want, they come to Springfield,” said Anita Bedell of the anti-gambling group Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction problems.

There’s also a provision in there that would let the riverboats off the hook for part of their forced subsidies of the horse racing industry. But instead of reducing the subsidy for the horse people, guess who is forced to pick up the tab? Go ahead, guess.

Answer: Taxpayers, of course.

* More gaming-related stories, compiled by Paul…

* Illinois session goes into overtime Senate Oks casinos

* Appellate court upholds revoking casino’s license

* All bets off on Waukegan casino

* Senate passes gambling expansion

* Senate wants to amend law to benefit casino companies

* Auction of casino license favored

* Rockford denied role in gambling expansion

* Syverson wonders why Rockford casino removed from the mix

* Editorial: Rockford needs to show its cards

* Revoking 10th casino license

* Tribune Editorial: Will Springfield ever learn?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 1, 07 @ 10:06 am

Comments

President Jones fancies himself as a warrior and great battle strategist. He might want to think about this over the weekend.
From Wikipedia
A Pyrrhic victory is a victory with devastating cost to the victor. The phrase is an allusion to King Pyrrhus of Epirus, whose army suffered irreplaceable casualties when he defeated the Romans during the Pyrrhic War at Heraclea in 280 BC and Asculum in 279 BC. After the latter battle, Plutarch relates in a report by Dionysius:

“ The armies separated; and, it is said, Pyrrhus replied to one that gave him joy of his victory that one more such victory would utterly undo him. For he had lost a great part of the forces he brought with him, and almost all his particular friends and principal commanders; there were no others there to make recruits, and he found the confederates in Italy backward. On the other hand, as from a fountain continually flowing out of the city, the Roman camp was quickly and plentifully filled up with fresh men, not at all abating in courage for the loss they sustained, but even from their very anger gaining new force and resolution to go on with the war.[1] ”

In both of Pyrrhus’s victories, the Romans lost more men than Pyrrhus did. However, the Romans had a much larger supply of men from which to draw soldiers, so their losses did less damage to their war effort than Pyrrhus’s losses did to his.

The report is often quoted as “Another such victory over the Romans and we are undone.” While it is most closely associated with a military battle, the term is used by analogy in fields such as business, politics, law, literature, and sport to describe any similar struggle which is ruinous for the victor.

Comment by Mike Noonan Friday, Jun 1, 07 @ 11:04 am
If I read SB 5 correctly it appears the 3% payroll tax is still there. Why would you have members vote for a tax increase if you didn’t know it would become law? I thought the first rule of voting for a tax increase was to know that the tax would become law before you put your neck on the line.

Considering Emil’s corruption and the MOU promises the Governor was making with Sen Dems last night are the Sen Dems comparable to Fed Republicans of last year?

Comment by ???? Friday, Jun 1, 07 @ 11:40 am
As a note to Ms. Bedell; that’s what people are supposed to do when they are unhappy with a state law or regulation.

Comment by steve schnorf Friday, Jun 1, 07 @ 12:05 pm
Rockford is and has been in dire straits ever since the legendary Zeke Giorgi (late Dean of the General Assembly) died in 1993. The City has never recovered. Many people there failed to understand his statewide status and influence, although they enjoyed his many accomplishments (NIU Law School, MetroCentre, Lottery, State of Illinois Building, Chrysler assistance, jobs for anyone who was qualified, and first and foremost his exemplary constituent service, etc., etc., etc….space constraints preclude more here). As the honorable Michael Madigan stated so eloquently in his beautiful eulogy at Zeke’s funeral, “There will never be another Zeke.” If I may be so bold - here is what “Zeke would do”…prevent the sale of the Lottery and steer the gambling boat home!” Rest in peace Zeke. You are so sorely missed!

Comment by Northern Exposure Friday, Jun 1, 07 @ 1:31 pm
“Legislation filed Thursday would change state gaming law specifically for the benefit of one company: Penn National Gaming of Wyomissing, Pa.”

“ARTICLE IV, SECTION 13. SPECIAL LEGISLATION The General Assembly shall pass no special or local law when a general law is or can be made applicable.”

What is it that forever has us introducing (and passing) laws that on their face (nod, nod) don’t pass constitutional (wink, wink) muster?

And oh, yeah, sure, the horsey set needs another handout. As the poor of this state rot.

A pox upon us all.

Comment by Dooley Dudright Friday, Jun 1, 07 @ 1:34 pm