Below is a video of Omar Duque, President and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, on CLTV's Politics Tonight. Omar discusses the many benefits of the 2009 Illinois Capital Plan, and what the recent Illinois Supreme Court decision means for residents throughout the state.
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.”
I support the capital bill because I support Chicago. I think it’s crazy that our legislators continue to bicker over this. They passed it just two years ago with broad, bipartisan support.
Even though the 2011 legislative session is now over, we can’t forget about the Illinois capital plan our legislators passed two years ago. This plan was slated to invest $31 billion and create more than 400,000 jobs. Unfortunately, it is currently being reviewed by the Illinois Supreme Court, thereby delaying its implementation.
Last year, Rockford supported the Illinois capital plan by not opting out of legalized video gaming. It realized over 30 percent of the capital plan is funded by video gaming, and it understood how important this investment is.
The gaming bill approved today by the Illinois General Assembly will provide needed revenue for the State of Illinois. It’s important to bear in mind that thousands of state capital projects will still require funding in order to move forward and help our economy recover.
We look forward to the full implementation of the Video Gaming Act (VGA), which will directly support infrastructure projects in communities across the state and provide cities and villages with local revenue to support their services and priorities. The VGA remains the largest and most politically viable funding source for the capital plan and is critical to creating more than 400,000 jobs over the next five years. These investments are essential for working men and women of Illinois and to the sustainability of our roads, transit systems, public schools, healthcare facilities and other public works.
The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the process by which the capital plan was approved and a decision is expected in the near term. For more information on the Capital Bill and the Video Gaming Act, please visit www.backtoworkillinois.com.
Rockford needs jobs. I know the General Assembly passed the Illinois capital plan in 2009, but we need investment now.
Even as the Illinois Supreme Court is weighing in on its constitutionality, all of our elected officials need to get their acts together and show their support for this $31 billion investment.
The Video Gaming Act, on hold pending a court decision, will vastly improve the current video gaming system in Illinois. Currently, there are estimated to be as many as 60,000 unregulated video gaming devices in operation in the state. Many if not most of these devices are being used for illegal gambling. The proceeds are untaxed and frequently go into the pockets of individuals connected to organized crime.
The Illinois capital plan that passed in 2009 is the most significant infrastructure project to pass into state law in over a decade. In total, the capital plan will create 439,000 jobs for Illinois workers and help repair thousands of deteriorating roads, bridges and buildings over the next five years.
As the Illinois Supreme Court conducts its hearing on the 2009 Illinois Capital Plan this week, it’s important to examine overlooked pieces of the legislation.
The funding mechanisms of the capital bill remain the only viable proposal to get Illinois back on track and Illinois workers back on the job.