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It’s just a bill

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A gaming expansion bill shot down in an Illinois House committee on Monday — which would have added a Chicago casino — now has a big opponent: Mayor Rahm Emanuel. […]

No one from the city has reached out to [gaming bill sponsor Rep. Bob Rita] to express any objections, [spokesperson Ryan Keith] said.

But a top mayoral adviser, who asked to remain anonymous, said on Tuesday that Emanuel opposes the casino bill in its existing form and believes it’s going nowhere in the spring session.

“If there is gaming in Chicago, it would have to be under a different tax and revenue-sharing structure where more of the money comes back to local government,” the Emanuel adviser said.

* More legislation-related items…

* With no evidence teens are driving up carjackings, lawmakers pass Emanuel’s juvenile lock-up bill: When asked Tuesday whether witnesses or proponents had provided lawmakers any data to prove that juveniles were the cause of rising carjackings, Andrade said he had only been given general police interaction data which was not specific to juveniles, nor specific to carjackings.

* Bill to raise tobacco buying age sees delay in House: The House voted against SB 2332 on Tuesday, which would have raised the minimum purchase age to 21. California, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey and Oregon have already passes the same idea into law. A total of 26 Illinois municipalities, including Chicago, Aurora, Evanston and Naperville, have raised the age in Illinois.

* Plan to raise smoking age to 21 stalls in Illinois House: Opposing members cited the likely decline in tax revenue and the belief the bill constituted government overreach.

* Groups fight huge expansion of police drone monitoring of protests: On Monday, another two amendments were introduced. One, put forth by proponents of expansion, would limit the use of facial recognition technology at events of more than 1,500 people and require police departments to maintain policies on reporting when drones are used. Another, by those, including state rep Ann Williams, would bump the minimum crowd size for drone monitoring to 10,000, limit the use of facial recognition software, and add requirements that police destroy the footage within a set period of time.

* The Immigrant Tenant Protection Act passed out of the IL House in a 62-48 vote. It prohibits landlords from intimidating, harassing or evicting tenants based on citizenship status. It was amended so it heads back to the Senate for approval before it can go to the governor.

* The AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program passed out of the House today in a 111-6 vote. The program is aimed at increasing enrollment at Illinois universities. It now goes back to the Senate for their approval of an amendment before it can be sent to the governor.

* SB20, which deals with Human Rights Commission speeding up review process on sexual harassment and other complaints, passes IL House 110-0, and heads to governor’s desk. Rep. Jimenez (who sponsors bill, along with Currie), said before, process could take up to 7 years.

* Tribune editorial: Why Illinois pols should switch to lower SALT: It’s been nice forcing people in lower-tax states to help pull our overloaded wagon. But that ride is over.

* Abortion Argument Hurdle To Equal Rights Amendment Ratification: Lang says opponents tying the proposal to abortion has been harmful to the effort. Opponents claim the proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution’s goal is to further abortion access. “When the language for the Equal Rights Amendment was actually written by Alice Paul in the 1920s, we didn’t have legal abortion in this country,” Lang said. “So to say that people wrote this with a plan to expand abortion services is just nonsensical.”

* By a 79-33 vote, House passes legislation lifting Court of Claims caps for Quincy Legionnaires families to $2 million. Moves back to Senate for concurrence. Rauner administration filed witness slips in opposition to the bill.

* Additional water sample tests positive at Quincy veterans home: A water sample taken from a shower head pipe at the veterans home in downstate Quincy has tested positive for the presence of the legionnella bacteria, according to the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested 22 water samples earlier this year and 21 came back negative, the state said.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 12:56 pm

Comments

I rarely applaud Rahm. Today I do.

Comment by Saluki Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:04 pm
Rahm looking for more money.

I know Chicago pols have a big say, but if they don’t like it, the GA should leave Chicago out and try to pass it.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:34 pm
===GA should leave Chicago out and try to pass===

If you do that, you can’t pass the bill.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 1:44 pm
Maybe if the agencies in charge of collecting and distributing gaming money that’s already legal, (like horse racing), did a better job of monitoring where the money went, a gaming bill would have a better chance? Especially the part about stiffing the City & Cook County’s share?

http://auditor.illinois.gov/Audit-Reports/Compliance-Agency-List/Racing/FY16-Racing-Bd-Comp-Digest.pdf

Comment by Northsider (the original) Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 2:13 pm
Re the Drone legislation, I don’t know that I really care if the police are flying a drone overhead. I won’t be doing anything unlawful, am not wanted for anything and I believe it’ll make the event safer for my family and me. Not sure why people don’t grasp how times have changed. As such, policing needs to change, too, to be more proactive. I’m sure others will point out how I’m incorrect.

Comment by Yiddishcowboy Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 2:26 pm
The large photo on the front page of the Tribune today, and the story, tells you everything you need to know about teen action in Chicago recently. lots of action that is not good.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 2:28 pm
===Not sure why people don’t grasp how times have changed===

They do grasp it. That’s what the bill is about.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 2:29 pm
Someone should remind the troncsters that illinois is a net payer to the federal government. We get back only $.45 for every dollar we pay in taxes. http://www.businessinsider.com/the-states-the-most-and-least-dependent-on-the-federal-government-2015-7

Thus we are subsidizing the small states.

Comment by TominChicago Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 2:43 pm
“So at age 18, you’re considered a full adult. But I guess you can’t make the decision whether or not you want to buy a tobacco product,” said Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton.

A full adult — except for purchasing alcohol or handguns, for driving school buses, entering casinos, or being elected to the General Assembly.

Comment by anon2 Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 2:55 pm
Thanks,Rich. Let me be clearer (which I failed at doing initially). I’m not sure why the *opposition* doesn’t grasp….

Comment by Yiddishcowboy Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 4:22 pm