An Illinois appellate court yesterday said the $31 billion capital improvement program voted in secretive fashion by the legislature two years ago was unconstitutional, violating the state’s single-subject rule.

Among other things, the measure legalized 45,000 VLTs across the state, raised sales taxes on some products, authorized the state lottery to hire private management, raised the tax on liquor, changed load restrictions on truckers, and on and on.

How the decision will undo some of these items already in play was not made clear yesterday, but is certain to create more problems in stretched and stressed Illinois.

(Harness Tracks of America)