New Ill. Senate president talks of raising gasoline tax

SPRINGFIELD -- Senate President John Cullerton says the state needs a major capital program too badly to depend on hopes of a major gambling expansion.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Cullerton yesterday (Wednesday) also refused to take a position on whether to raise income taxes.

But Cullerton did offer two ideas that could help fill the state's estimated $9 billion deficit: selling lottery tickets on the Internet and hiring a private firm to improve management and marketing of the state lottery.

He says those steps could boost revenue by several hundred million a year.

Cullerton showed no interest in overhauling the sales tax or in major budget cuts. But he appeared to favor an increase in the gasoline tax.