Bills the Gambling Men and Women of the General Assembly Passed on the Way to Potterville

After referring to Pottersville in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life," Aaron Shepley said, "If the voters of Crystal Lake want it (gambling) more than me as Mayor,[so be it].  I'm not going to compromise my beliefs."

After referring to Pottersville in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Aaron Shepley said, “If the voters of Crystal Lake want it (gambling) more than me as Mayor,[so be it]. I’m not going to compromise my beliefs.”  It appears members of the Illinois General Assembly do not agree.

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.

The Senate vote on House Bill 996 which allows charitable games

The Senate 40-12 vote on House Bill 996 which allows slot machines where charitable gaming allowed.  Pam Althoff and Karen McConnaughay voted in favor, while Dan Duffy voted, “No.”

Final vote on House Bill 996,

Final 70-46-1 vote on House Bill 996, which allows slot machines where charitable gaming allowed. Voting “Yes” was Mike Tryon.  Voting in opposition were Jack Franks, David McSweeney, Tim Schmitz and Barb Wheeler.

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.


Comments

Bills the Gambling Men and Women of the General Assembly Passed on the Way to Potterville — 7 Comments

  1. So, the objection to gaming is that adults are too stupid to be allowed to do it?

    Why doesn’t this objection apply equally to gun, tobacco, alcohol, and large soft drinks? Or maybe that is the point behind it all–the opponents of gaming would prefer a nanny state.

    Not that the people advancing this position are serious, but if we were to take their point seriously for the sake of argument, their argument makes no sense.

    If gaming inevitably leads to the downfall of man, shouldn’t we already be there?

    I can hop in my car and be at the Elgin riverboat in under 30 minutes.

    If the Riverboat doesn’t satisfy my desires, I can go bet on the ponies at Arlington or make a day trip to the Ho Chunk or Horseshoe.

    Shouldn’t McHenry and Kane counties already be overrun with smack addict, alcoholic, child abusers?

  2. Great job on Rep. Franks for voting no on this dreadful legislation.

    Gbling is a destructive way to bolster state funds.

  3. Edit: Gambling is a destructive way to bolster state funding.

  4. By the way, mattmac is using the ad homonym an straw man fallacy.

  5. mattmac= of course as correct as any person could possible be.

    How is it that “conservatives” are the first to decide what should and shouldn’t be illegal? It is just idiotic.

    Make a decision, do you want govt to run your life or not.

    As my gramps used to say, take a crap or get off the pot.

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