Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has figuratively gone blue in the face saying that he is not in favour of expanded gaming in the state. Now, with racino legislation having cleared the House by a vote of 65-50
, Illinois pols are taking Quinn's position to task.
On Monday, May 30 the Illinois House passed Rep. Lou Lang's gaming expansion bill (Bill 744). An article by The State Journal-Register explains that the house has traditionally killed gaming expansion legislation while the Senate has been more supportive of such efforts.
Monday's House passage of Bill 744 came just one day after the Senate rejected a plan which would've seen $6.2 billion borrowed to pay off old bills in the deficit-ridden state.
With the state deficit not going anywhere anytime soon, those in support of expanded gaming and reducing the state debt are saying that the gaming expansion measure is tough for Gov. Quinn to get away from.
“If a bill was on his desk that paid off a billion and a half dollars of bills, and he had no other way to pay it off, I think he’d want to take a strong look at that bill,” the report has quoted Rep. Lang as saying.
The bill still has to be passed by the Senate and signed in to law by Gov. Quinn if it is to become a reality. The spring legislative session is scheduled to end tonight at midnight.
(With files from State Journal-Register)
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