McHenry County Blog

This article started with a press release from the Illinois Church Action Council on Alcohol and Addiction. There are so many bills expanding gambling (despite the loss of the one to give Chicago, Danville, Rockford and the Waukegan-area casinos) that I am adding the roll calls. In order not to make an article too long, I shall run one a day.

Gambling Bills Passed by the Legislature – Part 6

Senate Bill 1738 is an expansion of video gambling.  More specifically,

• defines “electronic card” (and removes a cross-reference to the Illinois Administrative Code);
• provides that the central communications system vendor may be licensed as a video gaming terminal manufacturer or a video gaming terminal distributor, or both, but in no event shall the central communications system vendor be licensed as a video gaming terminal operator; [emphasis added]
• provides that the Board shall not permit the development of information or the use by any licensee of gaming device or individual game performance data;
• provides that nothing in the Act shall inhibit or prohibit the Board from the use of gaming device or individual game performance data in its regulatory duties;
• requires the Board to adopt rules to ensure that all licensees are treated and all licensees act in a non-discriminatory manner and develop processes and penalties to enforce those rules;
• adds language authorizing the Illinois Gaming Board to adopt rules establishing standards for advertising video gaming; removes language prohibiting the Board from disseminating information that is specific to individual licensed locations (and removes corresponding changes to the Freedom of Information Act); and,
• in provisions amending the Criminal Code of 2012, provides that video gaming terminals for sale to a licensed distributor or operator (rather than a licensed establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, licensed veterans establishment, or licensed truck stop establishment) under the Video Gaming Act are exempt from seizure.

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

The ICACAA recommends contacting Governor Quinn and ask him to VETO the gambling expansion bills: House Bills 996, 1140, 1570, 2520 and Senate Bills 70, 1738, 1884, 2234, 2371.  Phone:  800-642-3112, 312-814-2121 or 217-782-6830 or Click here to send the Governor an e-mail.

Share this Alert with your faith community and ask them to CALL and PRAY for the Governor.

This article started with a press release from the Illinois Church Action Council on Alcohol and Addiction. There are so many bills expanding gambling (despite the loss of the one to give Chicago, Danville, Rockford and the Waukegan-area casinos) that I am adding the roll calls. In order not to make an article too long, I shall run one a day.

Gambling Bills Passed by the Legislature – Part 5

Senate Bill 70 is an exemption to allow video gambling in retail liquor establishments, fraternal or veteran’s organizations closer than 100 feet from a church or school.

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

The ICACAA recommends contacting Governor Quinn and ask him to VETO the gambling expansion bills: House Bills 996, 1140, 1570, 2520 and Senate Bills 70, 1738, 1884, 2234, 2371.  Phone:  800-642-3112, 312-814-2121 or 217-782-6830 or Click here to send the Governor an e-mail.

Share this Alert with your faith community and ask them to CALL and PRAY for the Governor.

This article started with a press release from the Illinois Church Action Council on Alcohol and Addiction. There are so many bills expanding gambling (despite the loss of the one to give Chicago, Danville, Rockford and the Waukegan-area casinos) that I am adding the roll calls. In order not to make an article too long, I shall run one a day.

Gambling Bills Passed by the Legislature – Part 4

House Bill 2520 expands gambling and increases the danger of drinking and driving by legalizing Poker Runs as charitable gambling. Participants travel-usually on motorcycles–to 5 or locations-usually bars-where they draw a playing card to assemble a poker hand.

This language popped up in the Illinois Senate on May 30th, right at the end of the session.  It cleared the House two days later.

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

The ICACAA recommends contacting Governor Quinn and ask him to VETO the gambling expansion bills: House Bills 996, 1140, 1570, 2520 and Senate Bills 70, 1738, 1884, 2234, 2371.  Phone:  800-642-3112, 312-814-2121 or 217-782-6830 or Click here to send the Governor an e-mail.

Share this Alert with your faith community and ask them to CALL and PRAY for the Governor.

This article started with a press release from the Illinois Church Action Council on Alcohol and Addiction. There are so many bills expanding gambling (despite the loss of the one to give Chicago, Danville, Rockford and the Waukegan area casinos) that I am adding the roll calls. In order not to make on article too long, I shall run one a day.

Gambling Bills Passed by the Legislature – Part 3

House Bill 1570 expands video gambling in restaurants that have Off Track Betting Parlors.

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

The ICACAA recommends contacting Governor Quinn and ask him to VETO the gambling expansion bills: House Bills 996, 1140, 1570, 2520 and Senate Bills 70, 1738, 1884, 2234, 2371.  Phone:  800-642-3112, 312-814-2121 or 217-782-6830 or Click here to send the Governor an e-mail.

Share this Alert with your faith community and ask them to CALL and PRAY for the Governor.

This article started with a press release from the Illinois Church Action Council on Alcohol and Addiction. There are so many bills expanding gambling (despite the loss of the one to give Chicago, Danville, Rockford and the Waukegan area casinos) that I am adding the roll calls. In order not to make an article too long, I shall run one a day.

Gambling Bills Passed by the Legislature – Part 2

House Bill 1140 legalizes electronic raffle machines in bars, which would be under local control, not regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board, and could be ripe for corruption.

I assume the raffle machines are the lineal descendent of the jar games that I saw in various bars in 1966 when I was running for the Republican nomination for McHenry County Treasurer. Later I remember seeing one in the Elks Club in Woodstock. There were illegal then.

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

The ICACAA recommends contacting Governor Quinn and ask him to VETO the gambling expansion bills: House Bills 996, 1140, 1570, 2520 and Senate Bills 70, 1738, 1884, 2234, 2371.  Phone:  800-642-3112, 312-814-2121 or 217-782-6830 or Click here to send the Governor an e-mail.

Share this Alert with your faith community and ask them to CALL and PRAY for the Governor.

This article started with a press release from the Illinois Church Action Council on Alcohol and Addiction.  There are so many bills expanding gambling (despite the loss of the one to give Chicago, Danville, Rockford and the Waukegan area casinos) that I am adding the roll calls.  In order not to make an article too long, I shall run one a day.

Gambling Bills Passed by the Legislature – Part 1

While Legislators and reporters awaited changes to the massive gambling expansion bill, SB 1739, both the House and Senate passed the following bills to expand gambling:

House Bill 996 is an expansion of charitable gambling that also allows video gambling machines in the same facility, turning the events into full casinos. Gambling companies, not charities, will rake in most of the money. The Department of Revenue does not have enough investigators to adequately monitor and enforce this law.

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

The organization urges people to contact Governor Quinn and ask him to VETO the gambling expansion bills: House Bills 996, 1140, 1570, 2520 and Senate Bills 70, 1738, 1884, 2234, 2371.  Phone:  800-642-3112, 312-814-2121 or 217-782-6830 or Click here to send the Governor an e-mail.

Share this Alert with your faith community and ask them to CALL and PRAY for the Governor.

Look at the phone call that McHenry’s John O’Neill got from a gambling group.

He couldn’t figure out whether it was a pro-gambling organization or one in favor hiding under a name that might appeal to be anti-gambling.

Share what you think the objective of the group is.

John O’Neill

“I received a phone call from the Coalition for Responsible Gaming Expansion.”The caller immediately stated, ‘Recently Governor Quinn vetoed a bill to expand gaming in the state of Illinois. Do you agree with his veto to benefit the rich casino owners who already have gaming licenses?’

“I asked who she was and she stated, ‘OK sir, we are the Coalition for Responsible Gaming Expansion.’

“I asked when they are.

“She said, ‘OK sir, we have a website, would you like the address?’ http://www.responsiblegamingcoalition.org/

“I went to the website looking for info on who made up the Coalition but I couldn’t find any real info.

“I filled-out their ‘contact us’ form asking the following, ‘Your site states, “The Coalition for Responsible Gaming Expansion” is a broad group of concerned citizens, community leaders and business groups…”

“Please name some of the Concerned Citizens. Who are the Community Leaders involved with your organization? Please let me know which Business Groups are affiliated with the Coalition for Responsible Gaming Expansion.”

“Maybe if we all fill-out their forms we may find out who exactly are involved with The Coalition for Responsible Gaming Expansion.

“Just a thought.

“Thank you,
“John O’Neill”

= = = = =
The Illinois
Church Action on Alcohol and Addictive Problems tell me, “The Illinois Casino Gaming Association is part of this group.”

A press release from The Task Force to Oppose Casino Gambling for Chicago:

Task Force Applauds Governor Quinn’s Veto of SB1849

The Task Force to Oppose Gambling for Chicago today called Governor Quinn’s  veto of SB1849 a courageous political act. Despite pressure from Mayor Emanuel and others to bring a casinos to Chicago and four other areas, he kept his word to veto the bill.

Doug Dobmeyer, Spokesperson for the Task Force to Oppose Gambling for Chicago said, “The proponents, many not even living in the city want to bleed the city dry. Chicago will dodge a bullet that would have changed the character of Chicago forever.”

The Task Force to Oppose Casino Gambling for Chicago consists of business, civic organizations and religious leaders. The group continues to be in formation.

= = = = =

Locally State Senator Pam Althoff and Dan Duffy voted against the bill.  State Rep. Kent Gaffney voted “Yes,” while State Reps. Jack Franks and Mike Tryon voted “No.”

A press release from The Task Force to Oppose Gambling for Chicago:

Gambling Expansion, Including a Chicago Casino Threatens Families in This Recession

Task Force Appeals to Quinn to Veto SB 744 House

(Chicago, IL…) The Task Force to Oppose Gambling for Chicago while opposed to a casino for Chicago is deeply concerned with the

• proposed opening of five new casinos,
• slots at the tracks and
• expanding slots at the existing ten casinos

in the middle of a major recession.

It is not known if the newest downturn in the economy is the feared “double dip” that has been speculated about, but it is clear economic times are not good.

The Illinois General Assembly passed last spring SB 744, the latest gambling expansion bill establishing casinos in

• Chicago,
• Park City (near Waukegan,
• Danville,
• Rockford and
• an undisclosed location in South Cook County).

The proposed bill will finally go to Governor Quinn for a decision on approval or not by early September. Quinn has raised concerns over the radical expansion bite to the state…

The Governor has met with some opponents and proponents of the bill. The Task Force to Oppose Gambling for Chicago sent the following points to Governor Quinn to consider:

1. The tenth license opened in mid-July in the near by suburb of Des Plaines. This casino will remove the concern Mayor Emanuel has about Chicagoans going to Indiana to gamble, thus removing tax dollars from the state. We have no position on the existing ten casinos in Illinois;
2. We are greatly concerned about how a casino will change Chicago forever, now an international business center and world class city orientated to families. Chicago as you know is vibrant, exciting and appeals to all classes of people;
3. We are also concerned about the impact on people with gambling problems. The research published in the Journal of Studies of Alcohol, November, 2001shows 4.2 percent of Latinos, 3.7 percent of African-Americans and .5 percent of Whites have gambling problems. The math shows that minorities will be carrying the burden of gambling problems. The issue of problem gamblers was mostly ignored by legislators. Gamblers with problems, which are expected to increase, were relegated to being collateral damage, aided by a paltry amount of addiction relief money;
4. Citizens of Chicago have not been asked their view on a Chicago casino through a referendum. We know you share a concern over the lack of citizen input on major public policy decisions;
5. We share as the Chicago Crime Commission and Gaming Board chair, Aaron Jaffe has articulated concerns over crime increasing. As you know in Chicago we need to be concerned about street and individual crime as well as institutional crime in a city with a reputation for such behavior; and
6. Mayor Emanuel has made several budget adjustments since taking office that allows him to do away with furlough days. This move effectively removes the city’s argument they are in dire financial straits and thus needing a casino.

Doug Dobmeyer Task Force spokesperson said,

“We ask Governor Quinn to veto SB744 to preserve the integrity of Chicago and Illinois we know it and veto SB744 as a major mistake of state public policy. If the bill moves ahead with the governor’s approval, the nature and culture of Chicago will change forever. Citizens of this city have previously indicated they do not favor a casino. Instead a coalition of non-Chicagoan legislators provided the leadership to pass the bill. Preserve your reputation as a leader for people instead of a shill for Vegas type gambling bosses.”

The Task Force to Oppose Gambling for Chicago is a coalition of religious, civic and neighborhood organizations committed to opposing casino style gambling in Chicago formed in 1992.

Monday, the Illinois Senate passed Senate Bill 744 by a vote of 30 to 27 with two voting “Present.”

The Senate roll call follows. The roll call by state representatives and an explanation of the bill can be found here.

The Senate roll call is below:

Every legislator who lives in McHenry County voted against this massive expansion of gambling in Illinois. State Rep. Mark Beaubien, who lives in the Lake County part of Barrington Hills supported the bill. State Senator Dan Duffy, also from Southeast Lake County, voted against the bill.

When the slot machine, euphemistically call video poker machine bill was passed, not only Beaubien, but his Republican colleagues Mike Tryon and Pam Althoff voted, “Yes.”

Remember the fight at the County Board level?

Patriots United weighed in and won.

Undoubtedly Althoff and Tryon were told of the tactics used by the social conservatives to marshal support for their position against slot machines in McHenry County.

While the two bills are not the same, they both were/are intended to expand gambling a lot. It seems significant that the county’s two Republicans were not voting “Yes” this time.

Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks voted against both bills and explained his position to a forum on video poker run by Patriots United.