November 8, 2007

Gambling Action Alert

The four legislative leaders met with Governor Blagojevich for the second time this week to craft a gambling expansion bill. Speaker Madigan has said he will only negotiate with Rep. Tom Cross as the leaders and the governor try to find a way to pass a gambling bill to fund capital construction and mass transit, according to Capitol Fax. Rep. Cross, who declared the Senate gambling bill (HB 2035) dead, will now be brokering a House gambling bill that could include a city-owned, land-based casino for Chicago, one additional casino, slots machines at racetracks, Internet gambling, and expanding the number of gambling positions at existing casinos.

ILCAAAP is working with grassroots groups to hold public events in their own communities to reject the gambling expansion plan. A series of Anti-Gambling Rallys, press conferences, Public Forums, and prayer meetings were held in Rockford, Plainfield, Yorkville, Arlington Heights, and Country Club Hills. The South Suburban Coalition Against Legalized Gambling will hold a Town Hall Meeting in Markham next week. The Chicago Crime Commission has a poll on their web site asking if there should be a referendum on casino gambling in Chicago. www.chicagocrimecommission.org

We must ALL do something. Take one or more of the following ACTION STEPS and PRAY.

For Immediate Action

  1. Hold a public event in your community to reject the gambling expansion plan. Call ILCAAAP (877-204-6863) for technical assistance and help.
  2. Write a Letter to the Editor for your local newspaper. E-mail a copy of your letter to ILCAAAP, and it will be posted on our web site and sent to your Legislators.
  3. Collect petitions at your church and in your community for the next 10 days. Then hand deliver or mail the petitions to your State Representative and Senator by November 20. Let ILCAAAP know how many signatures you have collected. The petitions do not have to be certified or signed only by registered voters--it is simply to show local opposition to more gambling in Illinois.
  4. Vote on the poll. Click on the Vote Now link at www.chicagocrimecommission.org
  5. Share this Alert with your church, synagogue, or mosque.
  6. Forward to 10 others.
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