Illinois House says `no' to gambling expansion

The Illinois House sent a message Wednesday that the sweeping gambling expansion proposed by the Senate is off the budget bargaining table.

By a vote of 20-2, the House Gaming Committee torpedoed a bill that would allow four new casinos in the Chicago area as well as additional gaming positions at existing boats.

Even Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, who sponsored the original bill in the House, voted against the measure, saying changes made by the Senate were flawed, hindered agribusiness related to horse racing and -- in the case of the land-based Chicago casino -- blurred the lines of private, public ownership.

So why bring the measure to committee for a vote?

First, Rep. Lang said he thought the issue deserved a public hearing and debate.

But just as important was the chance to send the message that the Senate proposal has little support in the House.

Rep. Lang said Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Senate President Emil Jones keep pointing to the gambling proposal as a way to solve the state's budget woes, even though House Speaker Michael Madigan has said such a massive gambling expansion has little chance of passing his chamber.

"I think it's appropriate that we have a hearing to establish once and for all whether this was a bill that was going to move through the House and now we know it is not," Rep. Lang said.

But Rep. Lang said he thinks some kind of gambling expansion still has a chance of passing this session, because it represents one of the few ways that lawmakers can find additional revenue without raising taxes.

Earlier Wednesday, gambling opponents spoke against expanding the gambling industry in Illinois because of the social costs.

The expansion could mean 50,000 new addicted gamblers and 100,000 new problem gamblers in Illinois, according to Anita Bedell, executive director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems.

Rep. Patrick Verschoore, D-Milan, voted against the proposal.