When lawmakers hear directly from constituents through faxes, emails and phone calls, they understand the issues that really matter to the people they represent. The BGA’s e-advocacy tool connects our members and followers directly to lawmakers to make sure better government is always on the agenda.
Flickr--Zdenko Zivkovic
Lawmakers passed a sweeping gambling expansion, and the Governor has to decide whether to sign it. But no current data on the economic impact of the proposal exists.
Today we’re calling on BGA members and followers to urge Governor Quinn to get all the facts before he signs the bill.
Lawmakers recently approved a massive gambling expansion that includes a city-owned casino in Chicago, new casinos in four other locations and slot machines in airports and racetracks. Supporters are hoping Governor Pat Quinn will sign the measure when it lands on his desk.
>> The Better Government Association says not so fast.
We don’t oppose gambling or a Chicago casino per se, but no data exists to show what economic impact this bill will have in communities across the state, or how the City of Chicago would grapple with being the only city in the state to own a casino.
>> We need Governor Quinn to form a task force that will issue a report with an accurate projection of jobs, revenues, economic and social costs that go along with a gaming expansion.
The task force should also take a look at the oversight laid out in the bill, and make sure the public is adequately shielded from the criminal activity that invariably accompanies gambling
Without satisfactory answers to these questions the governor should do whatever is necessary to keep this bill from becoming law.
>> Click here to urge the Governor to demand all the facts before he signs the gambling expansion.
This spring, lawmakers in Springfield approved HB1716 — a bill that makes it harder for citizens to freely access public information under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA.) Now the measure is heading to Governor Quinn’s desk, where he can either sign it into law or reject it.
BGA Think Tank 
BGA Members to Quinn: Get the Facts Before You Ante Up
When lawmakers hear directly from constituents through faxes, emails and phone calls, they understand the issues that really matter to the people they represent. The BGA’s e-advocacy tool connects our members and followers directly to lawmakers to make sure better government is always on the agenda.
Lawmakers recently approved a massive gambling expansion that includes a city-owned casino in Chicago, new casinos in four other locations and slot machines in airports and racetracks. Supporters are hoping Governor Pat Quinn will sign the measure when it lands on his desk.
>> The Better Government Association says not so fast.
We don’t oppose gambling or a Chicago casino per se, but no data exists to show what economic impact this bill will have in communities across the state, or how the City of Chicago would grapple with being the only city in the state to own a casino.
>> We need Governor Quinn to form a task force that will issue a report with an accurate projection of jobs, revenues, economic and social costs that go along with a gaming expansion.
The task force should also take a look at the oversight laid out in the bill, and make sure the public is adequately shielded from the criminal activity that invariably accompanies gambling
Without satisfactory answers to these questions the governor should do whatever is necessary to keep this bill from becoming law.
>> Click here to urge the Governor to demand all the facts before he signs the gambling expansion.
Leave a comment
Filed under Action Alert, Commentary, Gaming