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Gambling Expansion Is -- Or Isn't -- Dead in Springfield
This could lead to a showdown: The Illinois Senate continues to home in on a plan to expand gambling for building and construction projects, while the top Democrat in the House says "not this year."

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), through his spokesman, issued the statement that reads, "I learned from the process of killing the Blagojevich gambling proposals that gambling is not a wholesome activity, and we're not going to deal with that this year."

State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) -- the House point-man on gambling -- says part of the problem is the economy. He says there's no way anymore to reasonably predict how much money gambling would bring in, whether $1 billion or much less. He says because of this, it would be better if lawmakers still considered more casinos, but use the money for the general checkbook, instead of for a dedicated purpose that would be in trouble if extra gambling money turned out to be short.

The Senate has been working on a building and construction plan, and could have the plan in writing by the end of the week.

(Illinois Radio Network)
05 06 09 by Newsroom
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