On night last week, I shot off 20-30 Freedom of Information requests for emails from announced McHenry County Sheriff candidate Andy Zinke.

I’ve gotten a lot of replies.

Today I received my first rejection.

It was from the Village of Spring Grove, the town that just approved video slot machines in its taverns.

Needless to say, I appealed the denial to the Public Access Counselor of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.

One has to wonder why a village would deny a document which is in its possession.

The folks I can see who will win here are the lawyers who answer the reasons why the denial was make.

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I have been informed by a village official that Ancel, Glink, Diamond, Bush, DiCianni and Krafthefer represent the village.

Some notes from a friend of McHenry County Blog about the Spring Grove’s Village Board’s approval of what supporters call “Video Poker,” but what will really put slot machines at any restaurant or tavern with a liquor license:

Tonight, Spring Grove Village Trustees Bob McMahon, Del Houghton, Mike Lee and Village President Mark Eisenberg all voted in favor of “approval of an ordinance amending certain sections of the Village Code to authorize video gaming” and “approval of an ordinance amending Chapter 26, Section 2606 of the Village Code to prohibit video gaming”.

Trustees Del Houghton, Bob McMahon, Mike Lee and Mark Eisenberg’s arguments were that

• they “didn’t think government should control what people did”
• “there were only a few games”
• “they could be taken out if things didn’t work out”.

Eisenberg said that “village residents were against the new Jewel food store going up too” but that it had turned out to be a good form of revenue.

Eisenberg also stated that we already have people gambling in the Spring Grove businesses on these machines.

Trustee Jim Anhalt stated that if they are, then it is illegal and we should be enforcing the law.

When pressed as to where these machines were, Eisenberg said that didn’t know.

Trustees Jim Anhalt, Pat Mazzanti and Ron Kopke voted against amending the ordinances.

10 of 12 village residents in attendance stood up and spoke adamantly against bringing video poker into the Village of Spring Grove, 2 had other business to discuss.

Trustee Jim Anhalt was very outspoken in his opposition and presented extensive research on the dangers and addiction of video poker and noted that several other towns that had chosen not to introduce it, specifically that Crystal Lake stood to make a lot more money than we did but still voted against it.

Other points Anhalt made were of the limited revenue it would bring the village while increasing a need for police. Anhalt ‘s logic was to “wait and see what happened in Fox Lake” after they installed the poker machines before rushing to make a decision for Spring Grove.

Mike Lee said that he was against government telling people what to do.

Anhalt ( a former police officer) stated that government protect people from themselves all the time (i.e. seat belts, speed limits, no more than 5 poker machines in one establishment, etc.).

There are only 3 establishments in Spring Grove that would be allowed to have video poker machines.

Anhalt told the board that they were “supposed to be representing the entire village, not just 3 businesses.”

Del Houghton verbally attacked Jim Anhalt for “rolling people out” to speak out against the issue.

Anhalt ‘s response was,

“Don’t you think the people have a right to know what’s going on and what we’re voting on here tonight?”

Resident Ron Erdmann asked why we were supporting the corrupt stat of Illinois.

“30%” off the top goes to state.

We get 1/6 of the 30%.

What’s left is divided 50/50 between the business and and the company that owns the machines.

“We stand to gain little.”

Those businesses in McHenry County that want to have slot machines (video poker to those who wish to make this form of gambling sound more benign) are listed below:

Algonquin

• Creekside Tap
• Don Marcos Mexican Restaurant
• Main Street Billiards Cafe
• Nero’s Pizza and Pub
• The Riverview Restaurant

Fox River Grove

• The Dead End Bar & Grill

Harvard

• Cool Music Stop
• Hub Lounge
• Front Street Tap
• McGarry’s Bowl
• South Side
• Stingerz Bar & Grill

Huntley

• Huntley Legion Home Inc.

Johnsburg

• Duffy’s Palace Bowl
• McHenry Lodge Loyal Order of Moose
• Oak Park Lounge
• Sunnyside Tavern

Lake in the Hills

• Moretti’s Pizza

Marengo

• Harley D’Z
• King’s Court Bar and Grill
• Miss Kitty’s Saloon
• Northside Tap
• Water’s Edge Golf Club Inc.

McHenry

• After The Fox
• Corkscrew Pointe
• Firewood Restaurant
• Main Street Station
• Nicolino’s Trackside
• Town Club
• Twisted Moose
• VFW Post 4600
• Vickie’s Place

Port Barrington

• Hermann’s Rest A While

Richmond

• Duffy’s Palace Bowl
• Red’s Steak and BBQ

Woodstock

• 8 LANES A WEEK INC.
• Wayne’s Lanes

An email from Mike Tryon about the next-to-the-last week in Springfield:

Key legislation was debated and voted on last week in the General Assembly. Here is an update of some of the more noteworthy items:

Bill to Curb use of Special Prosecutors Heads to Governor

After receiving unanimous support in the Illinois House in March, legislation that would put strict guidelines in place for judges who wish to appoint special prosecutors to investigate elected officials gained unanimous Senate support last week.

I was a sponsor of this bill.

House Bill 4797 was filed in response to the excessive bills associated with an investigation of McHenry County States Attorney Lou Bianchi, who was eventually acquitted on all charges.

To date, the taxpayers of McHenry County have had to pay more than $525,000 in special prosecutor costs.

According to the bill, before a judge can appoint a special prosecutor, he/she must first exhaust all efforts to find a state’s attorney from

• another county or
• the Illinois Attorney General to do the work.

If it is determined that a special prosecutor must be hired, the bill includes language that gives county boards a voice in discussions regarding costs and the right to see itemized bills.

House Approves Massive Medicaid Reforms

Historic Medicaid reforms – a key component to fixing the State’s budget crisis, were also approved last week.

While difficult, I supported the reforms.

Without meaningful Medicaid reforms, Illinois’ backlog of unpaid bills would grow to approximately $21 billion by 2017, a level of spending that is simply unsustainable.

The General Assembly’s action to cut nearly $1.6 billion from the State’s $11 billion Medicaid program will go far in helping get Illinois back on solid fiscal ground.

With passage of Senate Bill 2840, an estimated 300,000 individuals are expected to be removed from Illinois’ Medicaid rolls because they

• do not meet income eligibility guidelines,
• are not Illinois residents,
• have died, or
• have aged-out of the All Kids program.

This eligibility verification alone will save taxpayers $350 million.

The bill also provides for a moderate rate reduction for hospitals of 3.5% and exempts Critical Access and Safety Net Hospitals from the reduction.

In addition, Senate Bill 2840 will do the following:

1. Roll back the Blagojevich expansion of Family Care by reducing the eligibility limit for parents to $30,000 for a family of four
2. Impose a $10 co-pay for emergency room visits
3. Require a $3.60 co-pay on all services and a $2 co-pay for generic medications
4. Limit prescription coverage to four prescriptions per month without doctor certification of need or specialty drug/condition exception
5. Eliminate funding for adult chiropractic services

Shortly after the House approval of SB 2840, the Senate also approved the bill. It awaits final action by the Governor.  [For who voted how, see here.  Democrat Jack Franks did not support the bill.]

Cigarette Tax Approved

Last week the House also voted to increase the cigarette tax in Illinois. Under current law, the State charges a tax on cigarettes that is equivalent to 98 cents per pack of 20.

Senate Bill 2194 would raise the cigarette tax to $1.98 per pack.

The additional revenue raised by this tax, an estimated $350 million per year, would garner a federal match, bringing in a total of $700 million for the State’s financially stretched Medicaid program.

SB 2194 also contains language intended to create a financial incentive for Illinois hospitals and hospital-affiliated health care facilities to provide charity health care to low-income and underserved Illinois residents.

SB 2194 was approved by the House by a vote of 60-52-0 and awaits action in the Senate.

I voted against this bill because I can not and will not support any additional taxes on the people of Illinois.

The key to getting Illinois’ finances in order involves making difficult decisions; not simply creating more revenue sources.

Gambling Expansion Approved

With many providers waiting months to be paid by the State, and painful cuts being imposed on Medicaid, many other State programs, and on the State’s own workforce, the House passed legislation this week for a new round of licenses to conduct gambling within a variety of Illinois venues.

Senate Bill 1849, as amended, would direct the State to award five additional licenses to operate riverboat casinos at specified locations throughout Illinois.

The bill would also authorize a Chicago casino and the operation of slot machines at Illinois racetracks.

SB 1849 would raise estimated gaming tax revenue of $200 million a year, with additional one-time revenues through the awarding of the additional gaming licenses.

The bill would also provide funding for many agricultural programs and the State Fairgrounds.

The House passed SB 1849 on Wednesday by a vote of 69-47-2; the bill is currently awaiting a concurrence vote in the Senate.

Governor Pat Quinn has indicated that he does not support the proposal.

I voted against the bill, and while I am not opposed to a MODEST expansion of gambling, I feel strongly that revenues from any expansion need to be earmarked, at least in part, toward a pension stabilization fund.

General Assembly Works Through the Weekend

The General Assembly worked through the weekend and is also in session today. As your Representative, I am committed to staying in Springfield as long as it takes to make the required decisions that will lead us to a balanced budget for fiscal year 2013. I will continue to update you as other important pieces of legislation move through the process.

Remember our Military Today on Memorial Day

Lastly, as you gather with friends and family to celebrate this Memorial Day, please keep in your heart the brave men and women who have served in uniform and given their lives in service to our country. All of these heroes are deserving of our utmost respect today, and every day.

Sincerely,

Michael W. Tryon
State Representative, District 64

An informal discussion was held Tuesday night by the Crystal Lake City Council about whether to allow slot machines (“video poker,” if you favor the idea) in town

After presentations by two gambling machine purveyors, City Council members expressed a 6-1 margin against turning Crystal Lake into “Potterville,” to put it in Mayor Aaron Shepley’s words.

“I’ll bet if we wanted to make Crystal Lake the mecca of adult entertainment, we could do that,” Shepley said.

“Just because we could do it doesn’t mean we should do it,” he said just before referring to “one of my favorite movies, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’”

Comparing the scenes of Bedford Falls and Pottersville, he said, “If you don’t look at the extreme examples, you’re not looking at the whole picture.”

Presentations were made by representatives of two slot machine companies.

One, Stepanie Drougas, from Triple 7 Illinois, based in Lake in the Hills, told of the split of profits from the money gambled:

• 30% to the state
• 35% to the liquor licensee
• 35% to the machine owners (the ones at the meeting)

As I understand it, 5 percentage points of the state’s share goes to the local city or county (if unincorporated).

The Triple 7 Illinois woman estimated that each machine would generate $1,000 for the city each year.

“Your bars and restaurants are struggling.  This will give them a little shot in the arm,” she said.

Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller confirmed that the machines to be installed would not be the ones “sitting in bars now.”

“[Is it] basically equivalent to Vegas as to the speed it would spin?” Councilman Ralph Dawson inquired.

Jeff Thorsen calculated that $17 million could be gambled in Crystal Lake machines with $3.4 million going to the state.

“That’s a lot of money you’re pulling out of pockets,” he said.

Yours truly spoke in opposition on behalf of  the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake

I pointed out that each machine could be expected to pull $20,000 out of money now spent in local businesses on goods and services.

I explained that Methodists were holding a once-every-four-year General Conference in Tampa about which stories would surface later this week.

However, I explained the fights between liberals and orthodox Methodists that would end up in the stories would not be about gambling.

I told the Council that both liberal and conservative Methodists opposed gambling.

After the two gambling machine company representatives and I spoke, Shepley said,

“Let’s call it what it is. It’s gambling, period.  This is not Crystal Point Mall and pinball.”

Then he asked his colleagues how whether or not they favored allowing the machines in Crystal Lake:

• “Not,” said Brett Hopkins forcefully.  “I’m not going to open the door now.
• “I don’t really see the need,” Carolyn Schofield said.
• “I have a problem of introducing a sin so we can tax it.  Are those the revenues I really want to chase down and create,  I’m in the ‘No’ [column].”
• “Absolutely in the ‘No’ column,” said Cathy Ferguson.  She told of working with youth at the Arlington Park Race Track.  “I can tell you horror stories about people [there].  I do not want to have any part of that.”  Ferguson later told of visiting South Dakota.  “You cannot go anywhere for breakfast without gambling.  Those towns are dead.  It’s not doing what they wanted it to.”
• Ralph Dawson also spoke in opposition.  He pointed out that the gambling machines might “very well drive customers out of establishments.”
• “It’s not my job to decide what is or isn’t a sin,” Ellen Brady Mueller said.  “Got to bars and [you]see the same people sitting on the same stools [day after day].”  She indicated that a number are probably alcoholics, but suggested, “If that’s your addiction, you’ll find a machine.

“I think I’m probably in the same boat as the majority of the Council.

“I think it’s a fair thing to compare it to the pawn shop.  Those types of organizations tend to prey on the weak or people who are down on their luck.

“Do I find it somewhat disappointing bordering on disgusting that Illinois turns to gambling?” he asked rhetorically.

He characterized selling gambling as the answer to public financing problems as “snake oil.”

In the Illinois General Assembly, State Senator Pam Althoff voted for the authorization bill, while State Senate Dan Duffy voted, “No.”  That Roll Call is here.

In the House of Representatives Mike Tryon and Mark Beaubien voted in favor of the slot machine bill.  Jack Franks opposed it.  Here’s the House Roll Call.

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Tim Kane wrote a story on the council consideration of gambling for Crystal Lake Patch. He pointed out that I began my presentation with my “telling City Council members that the Devil will come as an attractive salesman with a tempting offer. That offer, Skinner added, would be ‘hard-core slot machines.’”

In the Northwest Herald, Brett Rowland also referenced what I said:

“‘I’m sure it would help downtown,’ he said. ‘But I’m not sure downtown needs help. You built a nice downtown district without gambling.’

“He also said that if the City Council doesn’t want pawn shops, he couldn’t understand why it would allow gambling. The council decided last month not to create an ordinance that would have allowed pawnbrokers to operate in the city.”

The Crystal Lake City Council is set to discuss whether slot machines and video poker machines should be allowed in Crystal Lake bars and restaurants Tuesday night.

While one can comment early on, Mayor Aaron Shepley usually encourages those who want to speak on an agenda item to wait for it to be called.

Way down at the bottom of the agenda is Number 23:

“Video Gaming – Discussion Only”

A press release from State Rep. Mike Tryon tells us the results of a recent poll.  When I asked I was told about 100 people participated.

Interestingly, one result is exactly the opposite of the way that Tryon voted.

He reports that his constituents said 69% to 30% that they did not want “gaming expansion.”  Think video poker/slot machines that Tryon and State Senator Pam Althoff supported.

State Rep. Mike Tryon Shares Constituent Survey Results

CRYSTAL LAKE…..State Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) has released results of a recent constituent survey. The survey was offered to residents through an insert in a local newspaper in the fall.

“Each year I survey my stakeholders about issues that affect Illinois,” Tryon said. “The results are a great tool that helps me better represent the 64th District when I’m in Springfield.”

The results are as follows:

(not all items add up to 100% due to responses outside of listed choices)

Question #1: Do you support borrowing or additional taxes to help balance the state’s budget, pay overdue bills and fund state services?

• Support Borrowing: YES = 22% NO = 77%
• Support Additional Taxes: YES = 25% NO = 74%

Questions #2: Which would you support in order to generate more revenue to help balance the state’s budget: cutting all new spending, freezing state employees’ salaries, cutting 10% from all state agencies, pension reform, or gambling expansion in Illinois?

• Cut All New Spending Out of the Budget: YES = 31% NO =68%
• Freeze State Employees’ Salaries: YES = 77% NO = 22%
• Cut 10% From All State Agencies: YES = 76% NO = 23%
• Pension Reform: YES = 80% NO = 20%
• Gaming Expansion: YES = 30% NO = 69%  [Emphasis added.]

Question #3: List the top three issues that are currently important in your municipality.

(listed in the order of frequency listed on surveys)

1. Taxes/Fees
2. Economy
3. Illinois Finances
4. Public Services
5. Transportation/Roads
6. Political Issues (special interests, corruption, redistricting, term limits, partisanship, transparency)
7. Other

Question #4: Would you support medical marijuana for people diagnosed with severe illness?

• YES = 50%
• CONDITIONAL YES = 24%
• NO – 25%

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.

And who is that friend who voted for a casino in Chicago and many other places?

State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Barrington Hills).

The 65-50-2 vote roll call is below:

In McHenry County State Representatives Jack Franks and Mike Tryon voted, “No.” State Rep. Mark Beaubien voted, “Yes.”

This bill will put slot machines at O’Hare and Midway Airports, the State Fair Grounds in Springfield and Illinois racetracks. In addition there will be four new casinos:

• Chicago
• Rockford
• Danville
• Somewhere in the South Suburbs
• Park City just north of Waukegan

Here’s a summary of what is in Senate Bill 744 as it left the Illinois House for Senate concurrence votes. (The State switchboard is 217-782-2000, if you wish to weigh in to McHenry County’s two state senators, Pam Althoff and Dan Duffy.)

House Amendment 1. Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Chicago Casino Development Authority Act. Provides for the creation of the Chicago Casino Development Authority, whose duties include promotion and maintenance of a casino. Creates the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority Act. Creates the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority to promote, operate, and maintain horse racing operations through a racing contractor in the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Makes corresponding changes in the State Fair Act. Amends the State Finance Act to create the State Fairgrounds Infrastructure Improvement Fund and the Future of Agriculture Fund. Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 and the Riverboat Gambling Act to authorize electronic gaming at race tracks (and makes conforming changes in various Acts). Further amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Makes various changes concerning Board members. Contains provisions concerning testing of horses at county fairs, payments from the Horse Racing Fund, and standardbred horses. Further amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Changes the short title to the Illinois Gambling Act. Adds additional owners licenses, one of which authorizes the conduct of riverboat or land-based gambling in the City of Chicago. Makes changes in provisions concerning the admission tax and privilege tax. Makes other changes. Makes corresponding changes in other Acts. Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that the Illinois Gaming Board shall issue a provisional license to an applicant for licensure as a licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment if the applicant meets certain criteria. Provides that the Board shall adopt emergency rules to administer the Act within 120 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

House Amendment 2. In the Riverboat Gambling Act, provides that beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act and ending July 1, 2014, from the tax revenue deposited in the State Gaming Fund, $2,000,000 shall be deposited annually into the Foreclosure Prevention Program Fund.

House Amendment 3. Removes new provisions from the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 concerning labor peace agreements.

House Amendment 4. In the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, makes changes to provisions concerning the Depressed Communities Economic Development Board.

House Amendment 5. In the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, provides that upon application the Board may issue a license to the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority authorizing the pari-mutuel system of wagering on live harness races, inter-track wagering, and simulcast wagering through a racing contractor, as that term is defined in the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority Act, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Sangamon County. In a provision providing that organization licensees awarded standardbred dates shall run at least 3,500 races in total during that calendar year, provides that standardbred racing conducted in Sangamon County shall not be counted towards the total number of races. Provides that annually, from the purse account of an organization licensee racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, an amount equal to 14.33% shall be transferred to the thoroughbred purse accounts of each of the following: Arlington Park Racetrack, Hawthorne Racecourse, and Fairmount Park Racetrack. Provides that beginning on January 1, 2013, from the purse account of an organization licensee racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, an amount equal to $100,000 shall be transferred into the Illinois Racing Quarterhorse Breeders Fund. Makes other changes.

If you would like to read the entire bill with all the amendments in the right order, you can do it here.

Here’s a press release distributed by the Task Force to Oppose Gambling for Chicago:

House Passes Expansion, Including a Chicago Casino 65-50-2 House

(Chicago, IL…) The Illinois House passed SB744, the gambling expansion bill establishing casinos in Chicago, Park City (near Waukegan, Danville, Rockford and an undisclosed location in South Cook County).

The bill now returns to the Senate for concurrence.

If the Senate concurs, it will go to Governor Quinn for a decision on approval or not.

Quinn has indicated the expansion is too large.

Task Force to Oppose Gambling for Chicago issued the following statement:

“We believe the passage of SB744 is a major mistake. If the bill moves ahead with Senate and Gubernatorial approvals, the nature and culture of Chicago will change forever.

“Citizens of this city have indicated they do not favor a casino. Instead a coalition of non-Chicagoans provided the leadership to pass the bill. It is a very sad day for Chicago that the coming years will prove what a mistake this bill is for Chicago and Illinois.”

With the backdrop of the appellate court having invalidated the law that imposed higher taxes on liquor and candy, plus the spreading of video gambling machines all over the state, State Rep. Dan Duffy made the following comments:

Dan Duffy

I agree with the “single subject rule” in our Constitution.

As you know I am a big supporter of road projects.

I voted against the Capital Bill because in addition to the road projects, they filled the bill with video poker and taxes on everything we eat, drink and enjoy.

I agree the omnibus Capital Bill needs to be separated into different bills.

What about the clause in our Illinois Constitution that demands we balance our budget every year?

We haven’t balanced our budget in 10 years!

The current leadership in Springfield has blatantly ignored the Illinois Constitution.

Who is going to sue the state and enforce that clause in our Constitution?

I would think the Attorney General of our state would do it but since she is the daughter of the Speaker, that would make for uncomfortable holiday gatherings.

Somebody else will also need to take the lead on that very important issue.