Video poker in Illinois “under construction”
By Mike Porcaro
Midwest Thoroughbred
www.mwtmag.com
The Illinois Supreme Court on July 11 dealt a royal flush to Gov. Pat Quinn by upholding by a vote of 7-0 the constitutionality of the $31 billion “Capital bill,” an extensive construction program to fund the building of highways and bridges and other public infrastructure. Video poker is expected to provide much of the funding for many of the construction projects included in the bill.
On Jan 26, an Illinois appeals court struck down the bill, which resulted from a suit filed against the bill by Rockwell “Rocky” Wirtz, who contended that it targeted tax increases that violated the Illinois Constitution limiting legislation to a single subject. The Wirtz family owns Wirtz Beverage Illinois LLC, a liquor distributorship, and the Chicago Blackhawks. Wirtz Beverage in recent months purchased property where Sportsman’s Park once stood.
Justice Ann Burke wrote the court’s opinion saying, “All of the provisions have a natural and logical connection to the single subject of capital projects. The few provisions that do not directly raise revenue are still related to the overall subject of the act in that they help to implement the other provisions.”
“It’s a very important law for jobs in Illinois — that’s our No. 1 priority: economic growth, jobs,” said Quinn. “What this means is our job recovery program can go forward full speed ahead.”