Illinois General Assembly, video gaming, and public opinion
What do you know! The Peoria Journal Star finally published my letter to the editor Sunday—the 27th—concerning Congressman Phil Hare. It took almost a month but it was printed. Tomorrow I’m changing the above statement to reflect the publication of the letter.
I’m changing direction this week. Although I plan more posts on healthcare nationalized, this week I’m going to cover the State of Illinois and its new push to increase revenue by allowing gambling/video gaming throughout the State.
I had intended to end my series on video gaming on Saturday the 19th. However, I have more to say and it seems apparent that healthcare nationalized will not occur this week and may not occur this year—nor should it.
My new plans are as follows: I’m going to end the series on video gaming on the 30th of September (or sooner). I plan to do my regular feature on “global warming” for, at least, the normal two days. I also have a new monthly feature I’m going to start and then, hopefully, back to healthcare nationalized for a few more posts. As you know though, I have been known to change things as I proceed.
If you’ve read this blog for awhile you know that I have concerns about public opinion polls. Unless I’ve seen the wording of the questions and the methodology used, I certainly wouldn’t “bet” the farm on the results. Even if everything is done correctly and accurately, a poll is, at best, a snapshot of opinion at one specific time. By there very nature, opinions can and do fluctuate and change over time. That said, I’ve been e-mailed one result of a public opinion poll on video gaming which was done in September after video gaming was passed by the State legislature and became law.
From http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Some selected information from that poll and the online Tribune article (And put into my format) includes:
“Tribune/WGN Poll
Tribune poll finds nearly 60% oppose video gambling
If given the chance to vote on the issue, most would reject key funding aspect of public works bill
By Bob Secter and Rick Pearson
Tribune reporters
September 9, 2009
Opposition to video gambling has softened in the last six years, but nearly 60 percent of Illinois voters say they would cast a ballot to ban poker machines in their local bars and restaurants if given the chance, a Tribune/WGN poll found.
Long part of discussions about expanding gambling in the state, legalized video poker became a reality this year when Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation as part of a financing scheme for a $31 billion public works program.
To ease concerns from local officials, the new law allows counties, cities and towns to ban gambling within their boundaries or gives voters the right to seek a referendum to decide the issue. The new law carves out a slice of tax revenues from the machines for local governments, but any locale that bans video gambling doesn’t get to share in the bounty.
The poll found that 58 percent of voters would vote against legalized video gambling in a local referendum, while just 34 percent would support it. Opposition was about 60 percent from voters in suburban Cook County, the collar counties and Downstate, while 49 percent of Chicago voters said they would vote against it and 42 percent for it.
The telephone poll, conducted Aug. 27-31 by Market Shares Corp. with 700 registered voters in the state, had an error margin of 4 percentage points.
State officials estimate that as many as 45,000 legal poker machines could eventually be up and running across Illinois, bringing in $300 million a year in tax revenue.” (1 billion dollars times 30% [the State government’s take on video gaming before 16.67% of that is distributed to local communities] = $300 million. It seems the State is estimating about $1,000,000,000 being spent on video gaming each year. Is that all new money being spent on a new, legalized form of gambling or a shift in gambling allocations from the other sources of gambling? Is it a good idea to increase gambling by $1,000,000,000 per year or is it insanity?—my addition)
“In the current survey, the strongest opposition was voiced by Republican and African-American voters. Minorities have long complained that the state lottery and casinos disproportionately prey on their communities, targeting gamblers who can least afford to lose.
A total of 52 percent of black voters said they disapproved of the recent decision to legalize it while only 33 percent said they approved. Asked if gambling has been good for Illinois, 45 percent of African-American voters said legal gambling in all forms has been bad while just 32 percent said it has been good.” (Perhaps this is why newly elected Representative Jehan Gordon [D], 92nd Representative District, from Peoria, who is an African-American, voted against the bill and against the wishes of the Democratic Party—my addition)
“Speaking recently to the Tribune editorial board, state Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) said he would rather have hiked gasoline taxes than turn to video gambling to underwrite the public works program. Still, Cullerton said, legalization of video poker was justified because the machines already are flourishing illegally and this allows the state to at least regulate the market and make money.”
Is this a new government innovation? Replacing private gangsters with Gangster Government? Legalize prostitution to regulate the market and make money from it? Legalize robbery to regulate the market and make money from it? Legalize murder to regulate the market and make money from it? Does that seem reasonable to you? We can solve all crime by legalizing it, regulating it, and getting our share of the money from it!!! How low can government go in its seemingly unquenchable thirst for MORE money?
And I think the key is “make money.” The “give US more money” mentality of most of the members in the General Assembly. It’s easier to “create” new methods of “taxation” that it is to actually set priorities and live with the revenue now provided to the State. The legislature always comes up with new “needs” for the State. “Give US more money” to meet those new needs. Like children in a candy store, they never have enough money to meet the perceived “needs” of the State. NEVER!!!!!
Did your Representative vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why? Did your Senator vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why?
What do you know! The Peoria Journal Star finally published my letter to the editor Sunday—the 27th—concerning Congressman Phil Hare. It took almost a month but it was printed. Tomorrow I’m changing the above statement to reflect the publication of the letter.
I’m changing direction this week. Although I plan more posts on healthcare nationalized, this week I’m going to cover the State of Illinois and its new push to increase revenue by allowing gambling/video gaming throughout the State.
I had intended to end my series on video gaming on Saturday the 19th. However, I have more to say and it seems apparent that healthcare nationalized will not occur this week and may not occur this year—nor should it.
My new plans are as follows: I’m going to end the series on video gaming on the 30th of September (or sooner). I plan to do my regular feature on “global warming” for, at least, the normal two days. I also have a new monthly feature I’m going to start and then, hopefully, back to healthcare nationalized for a few more posts. As you know though, I have been known to change things as I proceed.
If you’ve read this blog for awhile you know that I have concerns about public opinion polls. Unless I’ve seen the wording of the questions and the methodology used, I certainly wouldn’t “bet” the farm on the results. Even if everything is done correctly and accurately, a poll is, at best, a snapshot of opinion at one specific time. By there very nature, opinions can and do fluctuate and change over time. That said, I’ve been e-mailed one result of a public opinion poll on video gaming which was done in September after video gaming was passed by the State legislature and became law.
From http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Some selected information from that poll and the online Tribune article (And put into my format) includes:
“Tribune/WGN Poll
Tribune poll finds nearly 60% oppose video gambling
If given the chance to vote on the issue, most would reject key funding aspect of public works bill
By Bob Secter and Rick Pearson
Tribune reporters
September 9, 2009
Opposition to video gambling has softened in the last six years, but nearly 60 percent of Illinois voters say they would cast a ballot to ban poker machines in their local bars and restaurants if given the chance, a Tribune/WGN poll found.
Long part of discussions about expanding gambling in the state, legalized video poker became a reality this year when Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation as part of a financing scheme for a $31 billion public works program.
To ease concerns from local officials, the new law allows counties, cities and towns to ban gambling within their boundaries or gives voters the right to seek a referendum to decide the issue. The new law carves out a slice of tax revenues from the machines for local governments, but any locale that bans video gambling doesn’t get to share in the bounty.
The poll found that 58 percent of voters would vote against legalized video gambling in a local referendum, while just 34 percent would support it. Opposition was about 60 percent from voters in suburban Cook County, the collar counties and Downstate, while 49 percent of Chicago voters said they would vote against it and 42 percent for it.
The telephone poll, conducted Aug. 27-31 by Market Shares Corp. with 700 registered voters in the state, had an error margin of 4 percentage points.
State officials estimate that as many as 45,000 legal poker machines could eventually be up and running across Illinois, bringing in $300 million a year in tax revenue.” (1 billion dollars times 30% [the State government’s take on video gaming before 16.67% of that is distributed to local communities] = $300 million. It seems the State is estimating about $1,000,000,000 being spent on video gaming each year. Is that all new money being spent on a new, legalized form of gambling or a shift in gambling allocations from the other sources of gambling? Is it a good idea to increase gambling by $1,000,000,000 per year or is it insanity?—my addition)
“In the current survey, the strongest opposition was voiced by Republican and African-American voters. Minorities have long complained that the state lottery and casinos disproportionately prey on their communities, targeting gamblers who can least afford to lose.
A total of 52 percent of black voters said they disapproved of the recent decision to legalize it while only 33 percent said they approved. Asked if gambling has been good for Illinois, 45 percent of African-American voters said legal gambling in all forms has been bad while just 32 percent said it has been good.” (Perhaps this is why newly elected Representative Jehan Gordon [D], 92nd Representative District, from Peoria, who is an African-American, voted against the bill and against the wishes of the Democratic Party—my addition)
“Speaking recently to the Tribune editorial board, state Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) said he would rather have hiked gasoline taxes than turn to video gambling to underwrite the public works program. Still, Cullerton said, legalization of video poker was justified because the machines already are flourishing illegally and this allows the state to at least regulate the market and make money.”
Is this a new government innovation? Replacing private gangsters with Gangster Government? Legalize prostitution to regulate the market and make money from it? Legalize robbery to regulate the market and make money from it? Legalize murder to regulate the market and make money from it? Does that seem reasonable to you? We can solve all crime by legalizing it, regulating it, and getting our share of the money from it!!! How low can government go in its seemingly unquenchable thirst for MORE money?
And I think the key is “make money.” The “give US more money” mentality of most of the members in the General Assembly. It’s easier to “create” new methods of “taxation” that it is to actually set priorities and live with the revenue now provided to the State. The legislature always comes up with new “needs” for the State. “Give US more money” to meet those new needs. Like children in a candy store, they never have enough money to meet the perceived “needs” of the State. NEVER!!!!!
Did your Representative vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why? Did your Senator vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why?
posted by Christian Gunslinger at 4:25 AM
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