July 11, 2011

 

Supreme Court Rules Capital Bill, Video Gaming Act Constitutional; Clears Path for Critical Investments

 

CHICAGO– Today’s Illinois Supreme Court decision upholding the state’s 2009 capital plan and its funding plan will help put Illinois workers back to work, implement critical infrastructure projects and generate new revenues for local municipalities. Among those revenue plans verified by the Supreme Court’s action is the Video Gaming Act, which will provide host municipalities with a key revenue source, enhance law enforcement and institute needed reform of the state’s unregulated gaming system.

“We praise the sound decision of the Supreme Court and stand one million members strong in support of the full implementation of the capital bill,” said Michael T. Carrigan, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO. “Now the real work begins – putting thousands of hard-working men and women across the state back to work.”

“The Supreme Court has made a significant step in the right direction and we are eager to move forward with this critical investment,” said Jerry Roper, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. “Local municipalities should take this opportunity to move forward, jumpstart small businesses and vastly improve law enforcement and accountability measures.”

 

The Illinois Supreme Court overturned an Appellate Court ruling that questioned the structure and format of the capital bill and its various funding sources. The decision gives the go-ahead for the $31 billion capital program that will save or create more than 400,000 jobs across the state over the next five years and infuse much needed capital in the state’s infrastructure. The bill and its funding sources was passed and approved in 2009 with strong, statewide, bi-partisan support.

“The Supreme Court understands this is a critical investment in our state’s many dedicated workers,” said Tom Villanova, President of the Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades Council. “Every municipality should leverage this bill and its funding sources for its local workers and economies.”

“This important decision means myriad of Illinois businesses will grow and thrive,” said Omar Duque, President and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “The capital plan is a key component in providing local budget relief to municipalities across the state.”

Back to Work Illinois, a broad coalition of civic, business, community and labor organizations, will be educating local communities on the benefits of opting back in to video gaming. The coalition will help communities understand that they will control 5 percent of video gaming tax revenues collected locally to be used for local priorities. That means new jobs and support for vital projects. With the formation of the coalition and its educational campaign in 2010, fewer municipalities across the state have opted out of video gaming.