Amazon BLOCKED From Filming Union Voting
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Saturday, June 30, 2012
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Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Spence: Walker's Win in Wisconsin a "Big Victory for Missouri" | Fired Up! Missouri
Spence: Walker's Win in Wisconsin a "Big Victory for Missouri" | Fired Up! Missouri:
click link for story and audio
“Scott Walker took on tough issues. It was a big victory for Missouri, I think, when he won. Because we have some legacy attitudes in our state that need to change. And that shows that you can have courage and win. Because I think there's a very vocal minority that is very vocal against things like change. And there's a very silent majority like probably a lot of us that nobody that know we need to move forward.”
click link for story and audio
“Scott Walker took on tough issues. It was a big victory for Missouri, I think, when he won. Because we have some legacy attitudes in our state that need to change. And that shows that you can have courage and win. Because I think there's a very vocal minority that is very vocal against things like change. And there's a very silent majority like probably a lot of us that nobody that know we need to move forward.”
Could you pass a US citizenship test? - Who signs bills? - CSMonitor.com
Could you pass a US citizenship test? - Who signs bills? - CSMonitor.com:
'click link above
I fear some high school folks in this state would not pass
'click link above
I fear some high school folks in this state would not pass
Friday, June 22, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
White House preparing health care contingency plan, sources say
White House preparing health care contingency plan, sources say link
click link
snip
The Medicaid expansion was originally estimated to account for about half the more than 30 million people slated to get coverage under the law. Without a mandate, the number would be smaller but still significant.
Federal tax credits to help middle-class people buy private health coverage also would survive, as would new, state-based insurance markets.
Such subsidies have never previously been available, and millions are expected to take advantage of them, whether or not insurance is required by law. Still, it could be tricky to salvage the law's full blueprint for helping middle-class uninsured people.
Overturning the mandate would have harmful consequences for the private insurance market. Under the law, insurers would still have to accept all applicants regardless of health problems, and they would be limited in what they can charge older, sicker customers.
As a result, premiums for people who directly buy their own coverage would jump by 15 percent to 20 percent, the Congressional Budget Office estimates. Older, sicker people would flock to get health insurance, but younger, healthier ones would hold back.
To forestall such a problem, the administration asked the court — if it declares the mandate unconstitutional — to also strike down certain consumer protections, including the requirement on insurers to cover people with pre-existing health problems. That would mitigate a damaging spike in premiums.
Whether or not the court goes along with that request, more work would be needed to find alternatives to a federal mandate. That could provide an opening for state officials, as well as major insurance companies, to join in finding workable substitutes for the mandate. Congressional approval would likely be needed.
Without the individual requirement, about 14 million people would still get coverage, budget office estimates suggest. Supporters of the law point out that's still a lot of people.
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/white-house-preparing-health-care-contingency-plan-sources-say/article_bff9e31e-4546-590e-b877-42393c0866a7.html#ixzz1yFDfayAI
click link
snip
The Medicaid expansion was originally estimated to account for about half the more than 30 million people slated to get coverage under the law. Without a mandate, the number would be smaller but still significant.
Federal tax credits to help middle-class people buy private health coverage also would survive, as would new, state-based insurance markets.
Such subsidies have never previously been available, and millions are expected to take advantage of them, whether or not insurance is required by law. Still, it could be tricky to salvage the law's full blueprint for helping middle-class uninsured people.
Overturning the mandate would have harmful consequences for the private insurance market. Under the law, insurers would still have to accept all applicants regardless of health problems, and they would be limited in what they can charge older, sicker customers.
As a result, premiums for people who directly buy their own coverage would jump by 15 percent to 20 percent, the Congressional Budget Office estimates. Older, sicker people would flock to get health insurance, but younger, healthier ones would hold back.
To forestall such a problem, the administration asked the court — if it declares the mandate unconstitutional — to also strike down certain consumer protections, including the requirement on insurers to cover people with pre-existing health problems. That would mitigate a damaging spike in premiums.
Whether or not the court goes along with that request, more work would be needed to find alternatives to a federal mandate. That could provide an opening for state officials, as well as major insurance companies, to join in finding workable substitutes for the mandate. Congressional approval would likely be needed.
Without the individual requirement, about 14 million people would still get coverage, budget office estimates suggest. Supporters of the law point out that's still a lot of people.
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/white-house-preparing-health-care-contingency-plan-sources-say/article_bff9e31e-4546-590e-b877-42393c0866a7.html#ixzz1yFDfayAI
Editorial: Talk in the county of a tax in the city is premature...and weird
Editorial: Talk in the county of a tax in the city is premature...and weird
click link
snip
A far greater percentage of city residents ride Metro trains and buses than county residents, but a lot of those city residents are on their way to jobs in St. Louis County.
Besides, to their credit, county voters decided this issue in April 2010, when 63 percent of them voted for an additional half-cent sales tax for Metro. They accepted the argument that while not everyone rides public transit, everyone benefits.
The real problem with transit funding in Missouri is that the state contributes almost nothing; the Legislature is dominated by rural lawmakers who regard it as an urban problem. The state is happy to take the roughly 40 percent of state revenue generated in metro St. Louis, but don't be asking for any ot it back to help people get to work.
click link
snip
A far greater percentage of city residents ride Metro trains and buses than county residents, but a lot of those city residents are on their way to jobs in St. Louis County.
Besides, to their credit, county voters decided this issue in April 2010, when 63 percent of them voted for an additional half-cent sales tax for Metro. They accepted the argument that while not everyone rides public transit, everyone benefits.
The real problem with transit funding in Missouri is that the state contributes almost nothing; the Legislature is dominated by rural lawmakers who regard it as an urban problem. The state is happy to take the roughly 40 percent of state revenue generated in metro St. Louis, but don't be asking for any ot it back to help people get to work.
Editorial: Danforth, Bush right to chide GOP, but don't dilute message
Editorial: Danforth, Bush right to chide GOP, but don't dilute message
click link
snip
Unfortunately, bowing to party loyalty pressures, both Mr. Bush and Mr. Danforth have diminished their otherwise strong messages.
Last week, when prominent Republicans criticized Mr. Bush for daring to question the party, he quickly turned to the social media site Twitter to fire off a few partisan criticisms of the Democratic Party and President Barack Obama. It was if he wanted to restore himself to the good graces of those who might determine whether Mr. Bush is a future power broker.
Why walk back the truth? What Mr. Bush said not only was accurate, but it also had to be said. He should say it again and again so that his party can appeal to the independents who have abandoned it.
Then there's Mr. Danforth, who previously has decried the GOP's run to the right only to endorse some of its most extreme Missouri candidates. Thus is strong medicine diluted.
Consider Mr. Danforth's support for the political ambitions of St. Louis lawyer Ed Martin, both in 2010 when he ran for Congress and this year as he's running for the GOP nomination for Missouri attorney general. Mr. Martin has embraced the worst elements of today's divisive political culture.
click link
snip
Unfortunately, bowing to party loyalty pressures, both Mr. Bush and Mr. Danforth have diminished their otherwise strong messages.
Last week, when prominent Republicans criticized Mr. Bush for daring to question the party, he quickly turned to the social media site Twitter to fire off a few partisan criticisms of the Democratic Party and President Barack Obama. It was if he wanted to restore himself to the good graces of those who might determine whether Mr. Bush is a future power broker.
Why walk back the truth? What Mr. Bush said not only was accurate, but it also had to be said. He should say it again and again so that his party can appeal to the independents who have abandoned it.
Then there's Mr. Danforth, who previously has decried the GOP's run to the right only to endorse some of its most extreme Missouri candidates. Thus is strong medicine diluted.
Consider Mr. Danforth's support for the political ambitions of St. Louis lawyer Ed Martin, both in 2010 when he ran for Congress and this year as he's running for the GOP nomination for Missouri attorney general. Mr. Martin has embraced the worst elements of today's divisive political culture.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Paul Krugman: Another bank bailout
Paul Krugman: Another bank bailout
click link
snip
--
h, and that Latvian success consists of one year of pretty good growth following a Depression-level economic decline over the previous three years. True, 5.5 percent growth is a lot better than nothing. But it's worth noting that America's economy grew almost twice that fast — 10.9 percent! — in 1934, as it rebounded from the worst of the Great Depression. Yet the Depression was far from over.
Put all of this together and you get a picture of a European policy elite always ready to spring into action to defend the banks, but otherwise completely unwilling to admit that its policies are failing the people the economy is supposed to serve.
Still, are we much better? America's near-term outlook isn't quite as dire as Europe's, but the Federal Reserve's own forecasts predict low inflation and very high unemployment for years to come — precisely the conditions under which the Fed should be leaping into action to boost the economy. But the Fed won't move.
click link
snip
--
h, and that Latvian success consists of one year of pretty good growth following a Depression-level economic decline over the previous three years. True, 5.5 percent growth is a lot better than nothing. But it's worth noting that America's economy grew almost twice that fast — 10.9 percent! — in 1934, as it rebounded from the worst of the Great Depression. Yet the Depression was far from over.
Put all of this together and you get a picture of a European policy elite always ready to spring into action to defend the banks, but otherwise completely unwilling to admit that its policies are failing the people the economy is supposed to serve.
Still, are we much better? America's near-term outlook isn't quite as dire as Europe's, but the Federal Reserve's own forecasts predict low inflation and very high unemployment for years to come — precisely the conditions under which the Fed should be leaping into action to boost the economy. But the Fed won't move.
Editorial: Even with raise, Missouri state workers at bottom looking up
Editorial: Even with raise, Missouri state workers at bottom looking up
click link above
snip
There are states (such as Wisconsin) in which state employees — in part because of their strong union representation — make more than other employees. And that's not a bad thing (the economy can't grow if people don't have money to spend), but in Missouri it's only a dream.
The average Missouri worker makes $38,603, according to the most recently available U.S. Census Bureau data. That ranks the state 29th in the nation — perhaps not good enough, but fair.
Teachers here rank lower. State workers rank much lower.
Meanwhile, Missouri continues to rank as among the lowest-taxed states, particularly for taxes paid by businesses.
We steal from state workers to give welfare to corporations.
This is the Missouri budget model.
click link above
snip
There are states (such as Wisconsin) in which state employees — in part because of their strong union representation — make more than other employees. And that's not a bad thing (the economy can't grow if people don't have money to spend), but in Missouri it's only a dream.
The average Missouri worker makes $38,603, according to the most recently available U.S. Census Bureau data. That ranks the state 29th in the nation — perhaps not good enough, but fair.
Teachers here rank lower. State workers rank much lower.
Meanwhile, Missouri continues to rank as among the lowest-taxed states, particularly for taxes paid by businesses.
We steal from state workers to give welfare to corporations.
This is the Missouri budget model.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Why Do Working-Class People Vote Conservative? | | AlterNet
Why Do Working-Class People Vote Conservative? | | AlterNet
click link
from article
click link
from article
June 6, 2012 |
Photo Credit: ajagendorf25
Why on Earth would a working-class person ever vote for a conservative candidate? This question has obsessed the American left since Ronald Reagan first captured the votes of so many union members, farmers, urban Catholics and other relatively powerless people – the so-called "Reagan Democrats". Isn't the Republican party the party of big business? Don't the Democrats stand up for the little guy, and try to redistribute the wealth downwards?
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Behind Alan Simpson Bluster, a Warning Sign for Workers and Retirees
Behind Alan Simpson Bluster, a Warning Sign for Workers and Retirees
click link
Alliance for Retired Americans President Barbara Easterling wrote this at The Huffington Post.
Behind the shock and awe of Alan Simpson's hate-filled letter to the California chapter of my organization—he recently wrote that members of the Alliance for Retired Americans were "a wretched group of seniors" and "greedy geezers"—lies a cautionary tale for workers and retirees: Beware of politicians looking for political cover to cut Social Security.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of Social Security's death have been greatly exaggerated. The little-known truth is that the Social Security Trust Fund has a $2.7 trillion surplus, enough to fully pay all benefits through 2033 and a vast majority through 2086. Mitt Romney and Alan Simpson and others spread these popular myths of gloom and doom to deflect attention away from a major cause of our deficits: unneeded tax breaks for the rich and big corporations.
The December 2010 recommendations of a fiscal commission co-chaired by Simpson continue to greatly influence the Social Security debate. Mitt Romney and GOP congressional leaders want to lower Social Security benefits and raise the retirement age to as high as 70. Romney, like George W. Bush before him, wants to privatize Social Security, putting seniors at risk while Wall Street profits from gambling Social Security savings on the stock market. A more responsible approach is one by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) to significantly strengthen the Social Security Trust Fund by removing a loophole that allows upper-income Americans to avoid paying their fair share in Social Security payroll taxes.
click link
Alliance for Retired Americans President Barbara Easterling wrote this at The Huffington Post.
Behind the shock and awe of Alan Simpson's hate-filled letter to the California chapter of my organization—he recently wrote that members of the Alliance for Retired Americans were "a wretched group of seniors" and "greedy geezers"—lies a cautionary tale for workers and retirees: Beware of politicians looking for political cover to cut Social Security.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of Social Security's death have been greatly exaggerated. The little-known truth is that the Social Security Trust Fund has a $2.7 trillion surplus, enough to fully pay all benefits through 2033 and a vast majority through 2086. Mitt Romney and Alan Simpson and others spread these popular myths of gloom and doom to deflect attention away from a major cause of our deficits: unneeded tax breaks for the rich and big corporations.
The December 2010 recommendations of a fiscal commission co-chaired by Simpson continue to greatly influence the Social Security debate. Mitt Romney and GOP congressional leaders want to lower Social Security benefits and raise the retirement age to as high as 70. Romney, like George W. Bush before him, wants to privatize Social Security, putting seniors at risk while Wall Street profits from gambling Social Security savings on the stock market. A more responsible approach is one by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) to significantly strengthen the Social Security Trust Fund by removing a loophole that allows upper-income Americans to avoid paying their fair share in Social Security payroll taxes.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Microphone Grabbed Out of Hands of Reporter Questioning Honeywell CEO
Microphone Grabbed Out of Hands of Reporter Questioning Honeywell CEO
clixk link
ended, I went up to Cote and told him "I want to talk you about Metropolis, Illinois." Cote immediately ran out a fire exit with an entourage of people following him. An unidentified man who was with Cote blocked the fire exit and shoved me as I attempted to walk through it. I informed him that this was an illegal to block a fire exit like this.
I saw another fire exit that was nearby and ran through it to find Honeywell CEO David Cote in a room behind the set of doors. Upon seeing me, Cote and his entourage immediately began to run away and quickly exited through another set of doors. I attempted to follow Cote through that set of doors, but was blocked by the same unidentified man and another man, whose nametag identified him as Honeywell External Communications Director Rob Ferris.
Ferris barricaded me in the room for several minutes and atferwards had the Capitol Police detain me. They released me after 10 minutes when they realized I had done nothing more than try to follow a CEO down a hallway. Indeed, Capitol Police asked me if I wanted to press charges against Ferris for false imprisonment for barricading me into the room, but I declined.
President Obama is doing an event with Honeywell CEO Dave Cote today in Minneapolis if any reporters want to ask about this incident. A better question might be why has Honeywell been able to use the federal government to attempt to bust unions in three different major labor disputes. Either way, try to make sure you're in a room with multiple exits.
clixk link
ended, I went up to Cote and told him "I want to talk you about Metropolis, Illinois." Cote immediately ran out a fire exit with an entourage of people following him. An unidentified man who was with Cote blocked the fire exit and shoved me as I attempted to walk through it. I informed him that this was an illegal to block a fire exit like this.
I saw another fire exit that was nearby and ran through it to find Honeywell CEO David Cote in a room behind the set of doors. Upon seeing me, Cote and his entourage immediately began to run away and quickly exited through another set of doors. I attempted to follow Cote through that set of doors, but was blocked by the same unidentified man and another man, whose nametag identified him as Honeywell External Communications Director Rob Ferris.
Ferris barricaded me in the room for several minutes and atferwards had the Capitol Police detain me. They released me after 10 minutes when they realized I had done nothing more than try to follow a CEO down a hallway. Indeed, Capitol Police asked me if I wanted to press charges against Ferris for false imprisonment for barricading me into the room, but I declined.
President Obama is doing an event with Honeywell CEO Dave Cote today in Minneapolis if any reporters want to ask about this incident. A better question might be why has Honeywell been able to use the federal government to attempt to bust unions in three different major labor disputes. Either way, try to make sure you're in a room with multiple exits.
Union criticizes Honeywell after latest leak : thesouthern.com - Southern Illinois news – Carbondale, Marion IL
Union criticizes Honeywell after latest leak : thesouthern.com - Southern Illinois news – Carbondale, Marion IL
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METROPOLIS — A gas leak Wednesday at Honeywell Specialty Materials in Metropolis, the second within a month, was the result of plant management’s insistence on using inexperienced, salaried employees for jobs that should be done by laborers, the local union president says.
The leak of UF6 gas at the uranium conversion facility was quickly contained with no injuries, a Honeywell spokesman said, but it was the second time a leak has happened within the last several weeks.
United Steelworkers Local 7-669 President Stephen Lech said the leak happened after a worker failed to tell others a refrigeration unit at the site was not operational. Lech contends several maintenance mechanics were exposed to radioactive gas.
Honeywell spokesman Peter Dalpe said the leak started as operators were preparing for maintenance work.
click link
METROPOLIS — A gas leak Wednesday at Honeywell Specialty Materials in Metropolis, the second within a month, was the result of plant management’s insistence on using inexperienced, salaried employees for jobs that should be done by laborers, the local union president says.
The leak of UF6 gas at the uranium conversion facility was quickly contained with no injuries, a Honeywell spokesman said, but it was the second time a leak has happened within the last several weeks.
United Steelworkers Local 7-669 President Stephen Lech said the leak happened after a worker failed to tell others a refrigeration unit at the site was not operational. Lech contends several maintenance mechanics were exposed to radioactive gas.
Honeywell spokesman Peter Dalpe said the leak started as operators were preparing for maintenance work.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Editorial: It's money vs. the middle class in the Walker recall in Wisconsin
Editorial: It's money vs. the middle class in the Walker recall in Wisconsin
click link above
snip
In hastily called recall elections just a few months later, voters retained three of three Senate Democrats and ousted two of six challenged Senate Republicans, setting the stage for next week's recall effort against Mr. Walker.
The most recent polls favor Mr. Walker's retention by a small margin, but gubernatorial recalls are so rare that the predictive accuracy of polling is virtually unknown.
Mr. Walker and outside groups supporting him enjoy a ridiculously lopsided financial advantage, but longtime Wisconsin observers also note that most voters have long since made up their minds, so the spending is more likely to enrich media consultants, ad agencies and TV stations than the candidates' vote totals.
Finally, there's been some fanciful speculation that Wisconsin's recall results may foreshadow the outcome of November's presidential election. Perhaps, but the survival of America's middle class is more important than even that battle.
==
click link above
snip
In hastily called recall elections just a few months later, voters retained three of three Senate Democrats and ousted two of six challenged Senate Republicans, setting the stage for next week's recall effort against Mr. Walker.
The most recent polls favor Mr. Walker's retention by a small margin, but gubernatorial recalls are so rare that the predictive accuracy of polling is virtually unknown.
Mr. Walker and outside groups supporting him enjoy a ridiculously lopsided financial advantage, but longtime Wisconsin observers also note that most voters have long since made up their minds, so the spending is more likely to enrich media consultants, ad agencies and TV stations than the candidates' vote totals.
Finally, there's been some fanciful speculation that Wisconsin's recall results may foreshadow the outcome of November's presidential election. Perhaps, but the survival of America's middle class is more important than even that battle.
==
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Are Millionaire Republicans Making Money From Your Job Loss? - Franklin County Democrats
Are Millionaire Republicans Making Money From Your Job Loss? - Franklin County Democrats
click link
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner recently made headlines when he stated his intention to force another debt showdown this fall. There are numerous theories on why the Republican Speaker would want to push this issue after last yeat’s contentious fight and the resulting decision by Standard and Poor’s to downgrade America’s credit status.
Call me cynical but I can’t help but wonder if the time-honored Republican value of greed might play a part. With the signing of the Stock Act by President Obama in April making the practice of Congressional insider trading illegal a new addition to their portfolio is called for. How can a Republican keep up with the Koch Brothers on a salary of only $174,000+ a year?
How about investing in bonds? I know bonds are traditionally a low risk, low yield investment but what if the millioinaire repub caucus could spice it up a little? Any investor looking at the problems in southern Europe couldn’t help but notice how a debt crisis really jacks up the yields on bonds. If it happens there, it can happen here with the help of a manufactured debt crisis might be the thought running through the Speaker’s mind.
click link
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner recently made headlines when he stated his intention to force another debt showdown this fall. There are numerous theories on why the Republican Speaker would want to push this issue after last yeat’s contentious fight and the resulting decision by Standard and Poor’s to downgrade America’s credit status.
Call me cynical but I can’t help but wonder if the time-honored Republican value of greed might play a part. With the signing of the Stock Act by President Obama in April making the practice of Congressional insider trading illegal a new addition to their portfolio is called for. How can a Republican keep up with the Koch Brothers on a salary of only $174,000+ a year?
How about investing in bonds? I know bonds are traditionally a low risk, low yield investment but what if the millioinaire repub caucus could spice it up a little? Any investor looking at the problems in southern Europe couldn’t help but notice how a debt crisis really jacks up the yields on bonds. If it happens there, it can happen here with the help of a manufactured debt crisis might be the thought running through the Speaker’s mind.
Show Me Progress | Missouri's Progressive Politics Community
Show Me Progress | Missouri's Progressive Politics Community
click link
part
.Blunt is one of the most unpopular Senators in the country with only 32% of voters approving of him to 46% who disapprove. Missouri is the only state in our polling where both Senators have a net approval of -10 or worse....
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part
.Blunt is one of the most unpopular Senators in the country with only 32% of voters approving of him to 46% who disapprove. Missouri is the only state in our polling where both Senators have a net approval of -10 or worse....
17th Amendment: Missouri Senate debate on the 17th amendment (Todd Akin'...
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from wiki
The Seventeenth Amendment (Amendment XVII) to the United States Constitution established direct election of United States Senators by popular vote. The amendment supersedes Article I, § 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures. It also alters the procedure for filling vacancies in the Senate, allowing for state legislatures to permit their governors to make temporary appointments until a special election can be held. Under the original provisions of the Constitution, senators were elected by state legislatures; this was intended to ensure that the Federal government contained representatives of the states, and also to provide a body not dependent on popular support that could afford to "take a more detached view of issues coming before Congress."[1] However, over time various perceived issues with these provisions, such as the risk of corruption and the potential for electoral deadlocks or a lack of representation should a seat become vacant, led to a campaign for reform.
Ill. Gov. Quinn won't say if he'll veto slots-at-tracks bill
Ill. Gov. Quinn won't say if he'll veto slots-at-tracks bill
click link for story
“We’ll take a look at it when it arrives,” said Quinn—a surprising answer, given that the provisions of the proposal have been publicly and hotly debated for more than a year now.
But he did hint in a press conference just now that he might be able to live with the gambling-expansion package if it were to include stronger ethics standards—something he could insert in the bill himself under Illinois’ system of amendatory vetoes.
The Legislature in its final hours before summer adjournment last night passed a measure that would in effect more than double Illinois’ current gambling industry.
The bill would allow slot machines at Fairmount Park in Collinsville and the state’s other horse racing tracks. It would also allow five new casinos to open in Illinois (including a first-ever Chicago casino), bringing the state’s total to 15, and would allow the existing casinos to expand.
Quinn has always had a tendency to answer direct questions with vague platitudes, and today was no exception. In his Statehouse news conference, he was asked several times if he would veto the bill, and several times he stepped around the question, talking about the need to stay focused on pension reform and the dangers of gaming expansion, but stopping short of announcing a veto.
click link for story
“We’ll take a look at it when it arrives,” said Quinn—a surprising answer, given that the provisions of the proposal have been publicly and hotly debated for more than a year now.
But he did hint in a press conference just now that he might be able to live with the gambling-expansion package if it were to include stronger ethics standards—something he could insert in the bill himself under Illinois’ system of amendatory vetoes.
The Legislature in its final hours before summer adjournment last night passed a measure that would in effect more than double Illinois’ current gambling industry.
The bill would allow slot machines at Fairmount Park in Collinsville and the state’s other horse racing tracks. It would also allow five new casinos to open in Illinois (including a first-ever Chicago casino), bringing the state’s total to 15, and would allow the existing casinos to expand.
Quinn has always had a tendency to answer direct questions with vague platitudes, and today was no exception. In his Statehouse news conference, he was asked several times if he would veto the bill, and several times he stepped around the question, talking about the need to stay focused on pension reform and the dangers of gaming expansion, but stopping short of announcing a veto.
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