Illinois: Gambling bill is excessive

Gambling bill is excessive

Gov. Pat Quinn repeatedly said the gambling expansion bill was too top heavy and said it would make Illinois the Las Vegas of the Midwest. Yet, legislators kept adding to the bill to get enough votes to pass SB 744.

We agree that the gambling bill is excessive, and we applaud Quinn for asking if signing this bill is in the public interest.

Many families already are struggling financially. Families need the money they have for necessities such as food, rent, car payments, gasoline and clothing. Making gambling more accessible and acceptable will increase gambling addiction and harm children. Bankruptcy, crime, marital problems, child neglect and suicide are unintended consequences of more gambling. People who have never been in trouble with the law have been sent to prison because of crimes they committed to fuel a gambling addiction. Illinois residents have already lost their homes and family farms at riverboat casinos.

Tripling the amount of casino gambling will come at a high cost to individuals and devastate families. We agree that people will be harmed.

During these difficult economic times, legislators want people to gamble and lose their money in Illinois. Local residents, not tourists, will be tempted to gamble at casinos, racetracks, and major airports in Chicago.
We agree that gambling is an unstable source of revenue. We ask Gov. Quinn to Veto SB 744 to safeguard the public.

— Anita Bedell, executive director
Illinois Church Action on Alcohol &
Addiction Problems
Springfield

Call Quinn about gambling
The governor is looking over the huge gambling expansion in SB 744 which he agrees is excessive. He said at the outset of his term that he did not believe gambling was a stable form of revenue.

Gov. Pat Quinn wants to hear from the citizens of Illinois on this. I think it is important to realize that the reason our lawmakers passed this bill so quickly is the huge windfall of cash that comes from the cost of the licenses. That may seem to be a huge help in the first year at least to fund many needed projects. But can such revenue be sustained? If the past decades (centuries) show anything, it shows that gambling is not a reliable, long-term revenue source and that it ends up hurting people who have the least to spend on such a “sport.” When you get a windfall the first year, but end up spending billions on the following years cleaning up the problems gambling has caused, what has been gained?

Those of you out there who still read and hear the truth on this subject will hopefully respond to the governor's offer to listen to the people on this issue. And I pray that Gov. Quinn will sincerely evaluate this bill in the light of the truth that gambling does not help the state’s economy, but instead hurts private citizens who could use what money they have in the local stores and businesses in their communities, and have something to show for their spending.

May God help us that we not let our leaders down by being status quo citizens. I am asking the governor to veto SB 744 entirely.

Susanne Curry, Griggsville