October 24, 2007
Gambling Action Alert
The Governor and three of the Legislative leaders met to work out a new plan to bail out the Chicago area mass transit system. Rep. Tom Cross plans to meet with House Speaker Michael Madigan today to discuss the transit bailout and gambling expansion to fund capital projects. According to today's Capital Fax, this tactic is designed to try to pressure Madigan to back off the original negotiated deal and move on to something else, perhaps a gambling-enhanced bailout plan.
Gambling will not generate enough revenue to pay for all the promised road construction, mass transit, and member initiatives. Money to finance capital construction projects should not be based on gambling losses from the poor, the addicted, and the vulnerable. Ask Legislators to work with their leaders to find a solution without expanding gambling.
For Immediate Action
- Calls are needed to House Speaker Michael Madigan's office (773-581-8000 or 217-782-5350). Ask the Speaker to find a solution that does not expand gambling. Remind the Speaker that two years ago 67 Representatives voted for HB 1920 to ban casino gambling, and 59 are still in office.
- Call your state Representative (217-782-2000) and ask him/her to work with their leaders to put other solutions "on the table" that do not expand gambling. If your Representative voted to ban casino gambling by voting YES on HB 1920, ask him/her to oppose HB 2035 and all other bills that expand casino gambling.