Don’t gamble Illinois’ future

The (DeKalb) Daily Chronicle: Illinois has a debt issue that is related to an even more problematic spending issue.

And for reasons that are crystalline in their obviousness, Gov. Pat Quinn will not address the state’s most glaring issues — pension reform and school funding — so as not to upset his core constituency.

But an expansion of gambling? Really?

Quinn railed against the idea when his predecessor, impeached former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, suggested pumping up gaming as a means of cutting into the state’s debt. But in the days since state lawmakers approved the largest gambling expansion since Illinois first legalized gaming more than 20 years ago, Quinn has not definitively said whether he will veto the dangerous legislation.

He should.

If Quinn does not veto this 400-page bill, the number of casino gambling positions (slot machines, poker machines, gaming tables, etc.) will increase to more than 38,000 from the current 12,000 already in place across Illinois.

In all, five new casino licenses will be granted in the state. At least one casino would be added in Chicago and another granted to Rockford.

Fees

The fees alone derived from this venture would net the state $1.6 billion. The annual projected revenue from the expansion is estimated in the range of $500 million a year.

Gambling revenue is an inconsistent source of money and should not be looked upon as the answer to Illinois’ massive debt.

Instead of cutting expenses from the budget, state Democrats continue to look for new money to fill the gap. That doesn’t solve our problem.