November 27, 2007

Gambling Action Alert

Deliver Petitions and Pray for Legislators

Legislative leaders have not come to an agreement on gambling expansion. This gives us an opportunity to continue to build support and oppose the gambling expansion plans.

Our petitions, opposing gambling expansion, are receiving such a good response that we are extending the petition deadline for two more weeks to December 11. Both legislators and individuals who sign the petitions are encouraged that so many people are opposed to what some call the inevitable. Gambling expansion will only happen if the majority of those opposed -- are silent.

ILCAAAP applauds the works of volunteers who circulated petitions. Individuals and churches from Pontiac, Villa Park, Freeport, Polo, Ottawa, Anna, Sesser, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Springfield, and Homer Glen have already hand delivered or mailed petitions to their Legislators. Grassroots activist Beth Paschall reported that four members of their group met with Speaker Michael Madigan for 35 minutes when they delivered 210 petitions to his office yesterday. Activists Kathy Gilroy and Joe Schrantz met with Senator Dan Cronin, and he personally knew several people who had signed the petitions they delivered.

If you have not already done so, please hand-deliver or mail petitions to your state Representatives and Senator to show the opposition to expanding gambling in their district. Legislators need to put a "face" from their district on the gambling issue.

The Legislature will hold a special session in Springfield tomorrow to address the mass transit issue. Legislators are under pressure to link gambling expansion with mass transit and capital construction projects in their districts. I spoke with Rep. Ester Golar today, and she asked for prayers at this difficult time. Legislators who are opposed to more casinos are being pressured to vote for gambling expansion as the only way to fund mass transit or get construction projects in their district.

Please pray for the Legislators and the Governor that they can work together to resolve the issues without expanding gambling. We must not give up or give in!

For Immediate Action

  1. Hand-deliver or mail signed petitions to the District offices of your State Representative and Senator TODAY!
  2. If you have not yet circulated petitions, please do so!
  3. Pray for your Legislators, the Legislative Leaders, and the Governor that God will guide their decisions.
  4. Forward to 10 others.
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