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Governor Getting Earful About Casino Bill
(IRN) -- The governor is "hearing from all sides" on the gambling expansion bill.

The bill would add five casinos, expand existing casinos, and add slot machines at race tracks and the Chicago airports. It's not what the governor wanted, but it's what lawmakers passed, and Gov. Pat Quinn says he's looking it over.

"It takes careful study," he said. "It's 400 pages long, and when you're looking at something as major as this, you have to be deliberate and careful, and hear from every side, not just the advocates. I am going to listen to the advocates, but also those who are critics and opponents, and make sure we do things right."

The clock is not yet ticking on the governor's time to make a decision. The state Senate has put a parliamentary hold on the bill to buy time to understand Quinn's objections and tailor an agreement to avert a veto.

Quinn has been lobbied by the sponsors, State Rep Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and State Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan), to sign the bill as-is. He said his meeting with them was not "negotiating."

He also wants to meet with Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe, who identified problems the legislation would create: It would require a doubling of the Gaming Board's current staff of 210, and it would create jurisdictional problems among the Gaming Board, the Racing Board and new boards that would be created to oversee a casino in Chicago and slot machines at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

(Illinois Radio Network)
06 20 11 by Newsroom
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