Blagojevich wants legislators to OK leasing the lottery, creating a new Chicago casino and expanding other gambling to help pay for a new construction program that he says would help put the budget back in balance. He claims that program would put people to work, raise tax receipts and generate $600 million. Sweeping special state funds for excess cash and restructuring pension debt could further fill the budget gap.
He called on House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to get the Democrat-controlled House to approve those proposals, which already have passed the Senate. Madigan -- who circulated a memo on impeaching Blagojevich after the conviction of onetime gubernatorial fund-raiser Tony Rezko -- has pointed out that Mayor Daley doesn't support the Blagojevich-backed Chicago casino bill.
The Tribune, losing patience, says just veto the thing already, and make the cuts yourself, Gov:
Take a look at the chart here, prepared by the Civic Federation. It shows a whopping increase in per capita debt under the governor's original budget plan. The Civic Federation said no dice to that: The legislature has to "reduce the operating cost of Illinois' extraordinarily generous benefit plans before asking taxpayers to bail out state pensions by borrowing more money."Civic Federation study here.
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