From Chicago Tribune
Buried more than 400 pages into the 524-page gambling expansion bill that would bring a casino to Chicago are directions for splitting some of the state’s take to create new ways to pay for the pork-barrel projects politicians covet.
Money from the new casinos and slot machines at horse racing tracks would be steered to a new “depressed communities economic development fund,” a “Latino community economic development fund,” grants to the State Fairgrounds and county fairs, funding for equine research, soil and water conservation, cooperative extension services and an annual grant to the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Other provisions in the bill allow several suburbs to split the local share of the new gambling take, guaranteeing that nearby cities and villages will collect cash even if they aren’t the coveted winners of a new casino or have a horse track within their borders.
All told, some legislative estimates show about $250 million in annual revenues will be diverted from the state in what’s shaping up to be a conga line of earmarks. At once, the promise of spreading a new influx of money to interest groups is both a powerful tool to win more votes for gambling expansion and a new way to dispense pork projects after state tax dollars dried up significantly because of Illinois’ dire budget problems.
“It’s probably no different than any other major bill … money is shared around,” said Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, whose hometown has been trying to get a casino. “Clearly, Chicago and the Chicago area is going to be a huge winner, so to put extra pork into Chicago is something that’s probably not necessary — but something that happens as part of the process.”
