|
|
Study: $2 trillion needed for U.S. infrastructure Washington Post May 16, 2011 By Ashley Hasley III The United States is falling dramatically behind much of the world in rebuilding and expanding an overloaded and deteriorating transportation network it needs to remain competitive in the global marketplace, according to a new study by the Urban Land Institute.
Walt Stowe on WBBM-Chicago BWI expert source Walt Stowe sits down with Dave Dahl of the Illinois Radio Network to explain how legalized video gaming would clean up a broken system and provide Illinois much-needed revenue.
Waterloo OKs video gaming in taverns The Waterloo City Council on Monday approved an ordinance legalizing video gaming terminals in local restaurants, bars and fraternal organizations such as VFW halls. “There’s a new state act called the Video Gaming Act,” explained Lonny Ludwig, Waterloo‘s zoning administrator. “It requires any of these video game machines that are placed into qualifying establishments to have a license by the state of Illinois and also a permit issued by the City of Waterloo.”
Johnsburg Approves Video Gambling, Welcomes Capital Bill The Village of Johnsburg (McHenry County) overwhelmingly voted to support the Illinois capital program by approving video gambling within the Village. As the single largest funding source of the Illinois capital bill, the new state-managed video gaming system will help support the $31 billion investment program and the 439,000 jobs it will create. Johnsburg is has joined a growing list of communities and counties across the state that have recently taken action to support the capital bill and all its funding sources.
City must authorize video gambling Chicago Tribune
July 15, 2010
Letter to the Editor; Jeffrey Krozel
If Chicago doesn't opt-in to the state-managed video gambling system, the capital program will need to be cut by more than $2 billion.
Illinois paying for its big debt Chicago Tribune
July 13, 2010
By Kathy Bergen, Tribune Reporter
While Illinois continues its biggest borrowing spree in recent years, it is paying a steep premium for loans because of its failure to significantly address its financial crisis, observers say.
In peddling another $900 million in Build America capital projects bonds on Wednesday, Illinois could face interest costs of about $9 million a year more than if the state were in better financial shape. The extra costs would total about $225 million over the life of the bonds.
Delays in video poker rollout put funds for state construction projects on ice Crain's Chicago Business
June 28, 2010
By Paul Merrion
It looks like a safe bet that video gambling in Illinois won't come close to producing the nearly $300 million in new revenue expected in the coming fiscal year, putting a big crimp in the state's five-year, $31-billion plan to create about a half-million jobs building highways, schools and other long-term infrastructure projects.
While the number of communities opting out of last year's law allowing video poker machines in Illinois has slowed to a trickle, logistical problems and continuing controversies over licensing and other legal issues are likely to keep the new machines from operating anywhere in the state until fiscal 2011 is almost over.
RESIDENTS RALLY FOR CITY HALL ‘OPT-IN’ ON JOBS, INVESTMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2010 CONTACT: BRAD HAHN 630-606-1394 Leaders call on Ald. Schulter to make good on promise
CHICAGO—Residents representing a broad coalition of business, labor, community and neighborhood organizations gathered at City Hall Wednesday to urge the Committee on License and Consumer Protection to support new jobs and community investment by lifting the city’s ban on the new, state-managed video gaming system that is critical for funding the Illinois capital bill.
Peoria County Board to allow video gaming Peoria Journal Star
June 10, 2010
By Gary Childs
PEORIA - Video gaming's on in unincorporated Peoria County.
Rather than ban it, the Peoria County Board voted 12-4 on Thursday to regulate the activity that could raise $405,000 in revenue. "If we vote to ban the sin, all the social ills would still exist," board member Allen Mayer said before the vote was taken. "(Video gamblers) would just jump over to these other municipalities. "I support imposing a sin tax rather than banning it."
Regulation is key to video gambling law Daily Herald
May 31, 2010
Letter to the Editor, Walter Stowe,
Former Associate Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago FBI Field Office and Regulatory and Law Enforcement Consultant for BWI
I read with interest the May 17 article highlighting challenges facing Illinois as it implements a new, state-regulated and managed video gaming system necessary to fund state capital projects.
The article speculates on the potential difficulty of keeping organized crime from participating in the video gaming industry. After more than 25 years in law enforcement, I appreciate the concerns expressed. However, the issues raised actually support the need to transition to a state-regulated system from the unregulated world of illegal video gaming that exists today.  |
 The Video
Gaming Act allows local municipalities to receive 1/6 of the tax revenue generated.
|
|
|
|