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Senate backs 3 new casinos
Message was posted: 04:57 Sep 20th, 2007

User: libblesp Rank: Casino Gold: 58782CG Contributor rating: 128760 Status: Offline

Casino news source: Chicago Sun-Times - http://www.suntimes.com Senate backs 3 new casinos LEGISLATURE | But House likely to shoot down plan September 19, 2007 BY DAVE MCKINNEY Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Senate narrowly voted Tuesday to open three new casinos and to bail out cash-strapped public transit. The 37-15 vote on the casino package, which includes plans for a Chicago casino, represented a rare victory for Gov. Blagojevich, whose legislative agenda has been stymied this year in an acrimonious battle with House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago). Thirty-six votes were needed to pass the bill pushed by Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), Blagojevich and Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville). The casinos would fund a record $25.4 billion state, federal and local construction program to rebuild Illinois' roads and bridges and construct new schools. The package, which must be approved by the House, also would provide $200 million in operating funds for the Chicago Transit Authority and other transit agencies, staving off fare increases or service cuts until at least next summer, supporters said. "This infrastructure investment bill is a way . . . to achieve a lot of things that help people across our state," Blagojevich said. Eight Democrats voted against the plan, which Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) characterized as "voodoo public fiscal policy." Eight Republicans voted yes. In the House, Madigan opposes a massive casino expansion and helped kill a similar Senate-crafted deal in June. "I don't know if this gets much farther," said Madigan spokesman Steve Brown. "The darnedest thing . . . is it doesn't deal with the RTA/ CTA problem in any way." Brown said the top House priority will be passing a sales tax increase in Cook County and the collar counties and a new real-estate transfer tax in the city to fund mass transit. The Senate plan does not deal with the CTA's looming pension crisis and requires the $200 million be repaid if the state sets up a reliable funding stream for transit.