Illinois Governor may veto gambling bill

(US).- Governor Pat Quinn signaled serious trouble last week for the gambling expansion bill that would allow casinos in Chicago, the south suburbs and elsewhere. Quinn did not say that he would veto the bill but called it “excessive.”

2011-06-06

United States

Reading time 1:34 min

“I have told the legislators over and over again the people of Illinois do not want an excessive gambling bill that’s top heavy, and I think I reflect the public sentiment on that,” Quinn told reporters, when responding to the Senate's approval of gaming legislation. He said at a news conference last Wednesday that he will carefully review the bill. The week before, he had said he'd "never support" it.

“In Chicago, I have said I can see if it’s properly done, an opportunity for a gambling casino. But once the General Assembly got this subject, both House and Senate, it got more and more top heavy. Well my job is to make sure the people of Illinois come first, not the gamblers, not the insiders,” the governors told reporters in his Statehouse office.

The challenge is not over yet for another Chicago casino, The Chicago Sun-Times reported. The measure allows a new casino in Chicago and four other locations. It also allows slot machines at race tracks and Chicago airports.

The deal the state Senate approved last Tuesday was far more expansive, providing for four other casinos in the suburbs and Downstate and permitting slot machines at racetracks and, possibly, the city’s two airports.

The bill passed by a narrow margin in the state legislature. State Senator A.J. Wilhelmi said he did not think there were enough votes in the senate to override a veto. “There were 30 votes (for the bill) in the senate, and it would take 36 votes to override a veto,” Wilhelmi said. He added that he was not against a Chicago casino but voted against the measure that also would add slot machines at horse race tracks and Chicago airports.

Joliet expects its share of gaming taxes to decline by us$ 6 million a year because of business lost at the city’s two casinos if all the gambling permitted in the bill is put into operation.

During the last two weeks, Mayor Rahm Emanuel met personally with Quinn to discuss his desire for a city casino and since Friday made personal phone calls to wavering city lawmakers to help get the package over the legislative hump. But Quinn made clear he is not concerned about harming his relationship with the new mayor if he takes action that winds up scuttling the city casino because it was embedded with too many other gambling pieces he opposes.