Lawmakers Looking To Make Illinois Gambling Expansion Veto-Proof
Governor Pat Quinn has been slow to work with lawmakers since vetoing a gambling expansion bill in Illinois last year. This year, lawmakers are hoping that they gather enough votes so they do not have to rely on the governor's signature to make gambling expansion complete in the state.
Quinn has given a lukewarm response to Senate President John Cullerton's request to outline acceptable forms of gambling expansion. Cullerton finally received his answers last October, and a new expansion bill has been drafted. The new bill, however, may still not be to the likening of the governor.
"This new bill falls well short of the ethics standards I proposed in my framework last October," said Quinn recently. "Most importantly, it does not include a ban on campaign contributions as lawmakers in other states have done to keep corruption out of the gambling industry."
Quinn's beliefs may not matter this time around. The House has already passed the gambling bill and Senators in favor of the gambling expansion believe that the legislation will pass in the Senate with enough votes to assure the bill would be veto-proof.
"I would predict that we'll have the votes to override the veto," said Representative Lou Lang, who has been leading the charge in the gaming expansion debate.
The new plan calls for new casinos in Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Lake County, and slot machines added at Arlington Heights race track. It is the type of broad expansion that Quinn has said numerous times he would not support.
Lang understands the governor's concerns, but appears unwilling to haggle on the issue.
"I'd like to put this bill in front of the governor and have him sign it," said Lang. "I'm not looking to have an argument with the governor over this."
The new gaming options would bring thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of tax revenue dollars to Illinois.
May 24, 2012
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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