August 16, 2007

Gambling Update

Your Calls made a Difference - Governor Vetoes HB 1124

Your phone calls and letters to the editor made a difference. The Governor VETOED the gambling bill (HB 1124) to legalize gambling in bars on video games. Please call the Governor's office (800-642-3112) and thank him for vetoing HB 1124, which would have expanded gambling in communities and neighborhoods statewide. Or, you may e-mail him a thank you at www.illinois.gov/gov/contactthegovernor.cfm

It is important that we thank our elected officials when they do the right thing. The gambling industry and the bars will not be happy about this veto, and they will come back to try again. But today we give thanks that this bill did not become law. It would have caused harm to families and communities all across Illinois.

Two more gambling expansion bills await the Governor's signature. Both bills create special Lottery scratch-off tickets-for Multiple Sclerosis and HIV/AIDS. Voters approved a Lottery to fund education, not charitable causes. The poor and addicted will have to lose millions of dollars for the charities to get a small portion. Calls are needed to ask the Governor to veto SB 764 and SB 774.

Thank you to all of you who made phone calls, wrote letters to the editor, contacted your Legislators and the Governor, and shared the alerts with others. We must not give up or give in. Gambling interests will come back!

For Immediate Action

1. Call the Governor (800-642-3112) or e-mail www.illinois.gov/gov/contactthegovernor.cfm to thank the him for Vetoing HB 1124 and opposing an expansion of gambling in bars. Ask the Governor to veto SB 764 and SB 774 that expand scratch off Lottery tickets.
2. Forward to 10 others.

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