Senators approve budget

Publication Date: 2007-08-13

• Author:DOUG FINKE
• Publication:Springfield State Journal Register, IL

Meanwhile, a Senate committee approved a gambling-expansion bill that would provide $12.4 billion to spend on road, school, mass transit, college, airport and other construction projects. It would authorize a land-based casino in Chicago and let existing riverboat casinos expand. Revenue from the Chicago casino would be split between the city and the state. A last-minute amendment would exempt casinos from the newly passed state indoor smoking ban.

Senate Republicans, who support expanded gambling to pay for construction projects, didn’t show up at the committee hearing. Spokeswoman Patty Schuh said they were given a copy of the bill only 20 minutes beforehand and wanted to review it carefully.