Fitzgerald: Governor sought funds for OK of horse racing bill

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said Gov. Rod Blagojevich tried to get campaign contributions from a supporter of a law that would extend the amount of time horse racing tracks could collect prepaid casino money.

According to a criminal complaint handed down Tuesday, Gov. Rod Blagojevich worked with a lobbyist downstate on a pay-to-play scheme to get money from a contributor to the Friends of Blagojevich.

In exchange for a donation to his campaign, Blagojevich would sign the law to extend the time horse racing tracks could collect casino money out of the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund.

Prosecutors allege Blagojevich had conversations with the unnamed lobbyist and unnamed contributor in December, trying to get the campaign money in advance of signing the bill into law.

The lobbyist said the contributor was "good for it" regarding the donation after the lobbyist "got in the face" of the contributor, the complaint states.

The complaint also adds the lobbyist wanted Blagojevich to call the contributor "just to say hello" and to put "pressure" on him.

Arlington Park and other horse racing tracks are in line to get millions of dollars courtesy of the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund thanks to legislation in 2006 that opened the door for casinos to kick some revenue to horse tracks.

That trust fund that taxed casinos in Elgin, Aurora and Joliet has been in limbo for two years while the once-controversial tax wound its way through multiple court opinions. But, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled the tax was legal and the money could be dispersed.

The legislation on Blagojevich's desk would distribute the money between 2009 and 2011. But, the signing of that legislation could be pushed back because of the recent allegations leveled against the governor.