Suburban lawmakers: Local projects outweigh taxes, fees, gambling

SPRINGFIELD - There could be video slot machines at your local bar and a beer will cost more, but most suburban lawmakers said it's worth it because projects like a long-stalled Algonquin bypass and overdue improvements to Route 59 near Naperville and Aurora will get done.

"You have to weigh the good with the bad on these issues. I thought the good far outweighed the bad," said state Sen. Pamela Althoff, a McHenry Republican.

On Wednesday, the Illinois Senate voted 47-12 to raise taxes on beer, wine and hard liquor, increase the cost of drivers licenses and license plates, apply the full sales tax to medicated shampoos, candy and soft drinks and legalize video gambling at bars, taverns and VFW halls across the state.

The end result is more than a billion dollars a year that would be used to help pay off the state's share of a nearly $29 billion construction spending plan.

Among the spending is nearly $150 million for nearly two dozen schools, including several suburban districts such as Winfield Elementary 34, that have waited at least five years for millions in promised state construction help.

The Senate's approval sets up a vote today in the Illinois House 10 years to the day that the last multibillion-dollar statewide construction plan passed the General Assembly. The 1999 plan spearheaded by Gov. George Ryan also raised alcohol taxes and vehicles fees.

Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, predicted it would be approved as legislative leaders in both the House and Senate in addition to Gov. Pat Quinn have been involved in negotiations.

"It's been too long," said Cullerton, who'd made the construction plan a priority upon being named Senate president earlier this year.

If anything, there was grumbling in the Capitol halls from some Democrats who thought Republican areas were getting too much money or that blacks and Hispanics would lose out in the thousands of construction jobs this is likely to create.

And there was criticism in many circles about how the state plans to get the money.

Opponents of the video gambling argue the machines would be too widespread and it would be too complicated to prevent use by teens and involvement by organized crime. Several top Illinois law enforcement agents, including Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, oppose the plan.

"What a mistake," Dart said after hearing of the vote. "This is a horrible idea because this is a form of gambling that by its very nature is very addictive... You are going to have guys dropping their whole paycheck at the bar."

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich once called video gambling the "crack cocaine" of the industry and current Gov. Quinn has often spoken of his opposition to expanded gambling. In recent days, however, Quinn has indicated a willingness to deal as the state has gone a decade without a new construction deal and there's mounting pressure from unions who want the jobs, businesses who want the economic development and local communities who want the improvements.

Some suburban Republicans said they reluctantly voted for the plan that included video gambling in the spirit of compromise as key local projects were included that would otherwise continue to languish.

"What I really hope is our Department of Revenue will use this to crack down on the rumor that organized crime has been involved with video poker," said state Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican. "Those machines are already there so we're not fooling anybody."

Key for him was money for Route 59, which he described as "grossly underdesigned" and daily pitting suburban soccer moms in minivans against industrial truckers.

Lawmakers had tried annually to pass similar construction spending plans, but lack of trust between legislative leaders and then-Gov. Blagojevich short-circuited negotiations.

How they voted

How local senators voted Wednesday on a deal to allow video slot machines at all bars, clubs and truck stops, put lottery tickets on the Internet, raise taxes on candy and beer and hike vehicle registration fees to pay for $20 billion in public works spending.:

Yes

Pam Althoff, a 32nd District McHenry Republican

Michael Bond, a 31st District Grayslake Democrat

Dan Cronin, a 21st District Elmhurst Republican

Kirk Dillard, a 24th District Hinsdale Republican

Susan Garrett, a 29th District Lake Forest Democrat

Dan Kotowski, a 33rd District Park Ridge Democrat

Terry Link, a 30th District Waukegan Democrat

Carol Pankau, a 23rd District Itasca Republican

Christine Radogno, a 41st District Lemont Republican

Jeff Schoenberg, a 9th District Evanston Democrat

No

Dan Duffy, a 26th District Lake Barrington Republican

John Milner, a 28th District Carol Stream Republican

Matt Murphy, a 27th District Palatine Republican

Chris Lauzen, a 25th District Aurora Republican

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=295183">Suburban projects in spending plan <span class="date">[05/21/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>