CHICAGO-Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says that there will be no casino gaming expansion in the state without the General Assembly enacting comprehensive changes to reform the underfunded government worker pension system first.
Gaming supporters are currently pushing for passage of a bill to add five new casinos in the state, including one in Chicago. Quinn characterized the discussions on gambling to a "shiny object" that is diverting lawmakers' attention from pension reform, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Quinn says he has told lawmakers, "I will never, ever sign a gaming expansion absent comprehensive pension reform."
If Chicago does secure a new casino in the future, Gov. Quinn said the city might want to use its share of gaming revenues to "focus on their serious financial issues about education," instead of using gambling funds to finance infrastructure and modernization improvements to schools, as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has suggested. See story in the Chicago Tribune.
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John Jordan
John Jordan is a veteran journalist with 36 years of print and digital media experience.
