Video poker, alcohol taxes sent to governor's desk
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois House gave final approval Thursday to legalizing video poker, raising taxes on beer, wine and liquor and increasing vehicle fees to help pay for a $29 billion construction spending plan, sending the plan on to the governor despite a split among suburban lawmakers.
The final vote was 86-30 and among the 30 suburban House members representing the Daily Herald's readership area, lawmakers were divided. Those who voted for the plan said the good, in the form of major improvements to local roads and schools, outweighed the bad - gambling and taxes.
Naperville Republican state Rep. Darlene Senger voted "yes," calling the final deal a win for her community because of long-needed improvements to Route 59.
"This is an absolutely enormous success for the city of Naperville. We have been lobbying and fighting for this funding for more than a decade," Senger said.
Others hoped the plan would help the economy rebound.
"I think the most important thing in this vote was that we are creating jobs and jobs are so needed right now. I've never been supportive of video poker before - I really don't like that aspect of it - but one of the things we really required, and they did put in there, is that each municipality has the option of doing an ordinance against it," said state Rep. JoAnn Osmond, an Antioch Republican who voted "yes."
Similarly, House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego said he was troubled by some of the moneymakers in the deal, but the reality is any deal would have something objectionable in it. Cross voted "yes."
Many suburban opponents, however, said they couldn't get past the gambling aspect, which could legalize payouts at video slot machines in neighborhood bars.
"I wanted them to split the bill on the funding sources because there were some of them I could have supported but in good conscious I couldn't vote for video gambling. That's what swayed me. I want this to pass and I am glad it did but I just couldn't vote for something I thought was morally wrong," said Marengo Democratic state Rep. Franks, who voted "no."
State Rep. Sidney Mathias, a Buffalo Grove Republican, also said he couldn't support gambling.
"Since I have been a member, for the last 10 years I have voted against the expansion of gambling," Mathias said. "This was also my only chance to say I will not support the revenue unless there is some funding for Route 53."
Others said the whole package was just too much for taxpayers.
"I know we need the construction and the jobs. It is just from my walking door-to-door ... it is just not the right time to put this kind of a tax burden on the people," said Elgin Democratic state Rep. Keith Farnham.
Proposals approving the spending backed by the gambling and tax increases, however, were overwhelmingly approved and sent to Gov. Pat Quinn's desk. Quinn has been a longtime critic of gambling expansion, but has softened his stance in recent weeks.
"The governor is a longtime proponent of a jobs bill that will put people back to work while also building and improving Illinois' roads, bridges, schools and mass transit systems, and he looks forward to reviewing the legislation," said spokeswoman Katie Ridgway.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=295463">How your legislator voted<span class="date"> [5/21/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>