Casino, road measures advance, but may be doomed
SPRINGFIELD -- A multibillion-dollar political tug of war continued Tuesday as the Illinois Senate approved three new casinos to finance massive road construction knowing full well the proposal may be doomed.
Instead, key supporters said they were sending a message that the state's aging infrastructure can't continue to fall victim to Capitol gridlock.
"This is the time to do it. We want to send a message that we want to see the ball move forward," Senate Republican leader Frank Watson of downstate Greenville said Tuesday. Watson delivered nine GOP votes to help Democrats pass the gambling plan.
Mass transit funding, however, remains in limbo. The casino deal includes a $200 million loan to the RTA to stave off fare increases and route cuts until next summer, with lawmakers hoping to deliver a long-term fix before then. But plans languished to increase the sales tax in the suburbs and the real estate transfer tax in Chicago to deliver permanent transit funding.
"We are aware that what is being presented at this point is an interim proposal, but the sense of urgency remains for a permanent funding solution," RTA spokeswoman Diane Palmer said.
Even with growing Republican support, the outcome of the casinos-for-construction deal in the Senate was in question up until the final vote. It needed 36 votes for approval and ended up with 37, albeit with some odd twists.
During a speech on the Senate floor, state Sen. Michael Noland, an Elgin Democrat, indicated he planned to vote against the deal, but then voted for it. Afterward, he said the debate convinced him that ultimately it'd be good for his area and he'd not been pressured.
Republicans, meanwhile, demanded signed promises from Gov. Rod Blagojevich regarding how the construction money -- totaling more than $25 billion once federal and local dollars are added -- would be spent. When the guarantees initially were returned unsigned, Senate Republicans sent them back for the governor's signature, saying otherwise the deal was off.
But even with the guarantees, the state's increasingly hostile political climate and widening fissures among Democratic powers make it unlikely the casinos approved Tuesday will welcome gamblers anytime soon, let alone fund road building.
Political leaders in the Illinois House have said such a massive gambling expansion has little support there.
Some Senate Democrats accused House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, of trying to defeat the latest proposal. Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones Jr., also a Chicago Democrat, have been at odds on several issues this year.
But Madigan spokesman Steve Brown questioned such claims. "Why would he do that?" Brown said.
Similarly, House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego has expressed doubts about adding so many casinos.
After Tuesday night's vote, Blagojevich, who'd previously opposed gambling expansion, urged the House to approve the deal, calling it an "imperfect means to get to good ends."
What's in it
Details of the gambling and construction plan that Tuesday passed the Illinois Senate:
Mass transit: $200 million loan to the RTA to stave off cuts until next June. RTA must pay it back with a funding source to be determined later.
Gambling: Puts a casino in Chicago and two more at locations to be determined later. Existing casinos get access to more slots, table games.
School funding: $259.7 million for general state aid and $1.9 billion in construction over three years, with the first $150 million going to 24 districts waiting since 2002.
Roads and bridges: $4.8 billion in construction spending over six years.
Source: legislative documents.
How they voted
'Yes'
Michael Bond, Grayslake Democrat; Kirk W. Dillard, Hinsdale Republican; Don Harmon, Oak Park Democrat; Linda Holmes, Aurora Democrat; Dan Kotowski, Park Ridge Democrat; Terry Link, Waukegan Democrat; Michael Noland, Elgin Democrat; William E. Peterson, Long Grove Republican; Arthur "AJ" Wilhelmi, Joliet Democrat
'No'
Pamela J. Althoff, McHenry Republican; Dan Cronin, Elmhurst Republican; Randall M. Hultgren, Winfield Republican; Chris Lauzen, Aurora Republican; John J. Millner, Carol Stream Republican; Matt Murphy, Palatine Republican; Carole Pankau, Roselle Republican
'Present' or not voting
Susan Garrett, Lake Forest Democrat
Source: Senate roll call HB2035