Casino Looking Like A No-Go

By Sam Bakken in News on Nov 11, 2004 8:13PM

While Senate President Emil (D-Chicago) said yesterday that a gambling expansion bill is very much alive, both Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) and a confidante of Mayor Daley said they don't expect any sort of gambling deal to come out of this Fall's veto session. As Chicagoist predicted yesterday, it looks like you won't roll any dice in Chicago until at least spring. The State House and Senate adjourn next Thursday.

Watson blamed the delay on the Democrats refusal to negotiate on the deal and Daley's confidante said the mob would need more time to select a weighted-roulette-wheel manufacturer to provide wheels for their, ahem, the city's casino and there would be no movement until then and to "fuhgetaboutit." Come on now, Daley's confidante didn't really say that. They told the Sun Times reporter, as they nudged the reporter in the back with a "violin" case, to "mindyabiznis."

All kidding aside, Daley is asking that the city own its own casino license and that the casino's advisory be made up of mostly mayoral appointments. Yea right! We wouldn't trust Daley to run a lemonade stand legitimately let alone a casino! Wait, Daley runs a city and that city steals cars. Anyway, Daley's demands and recent scandal infection appear to be the main thing discouraging Republicans and down-state Democrats from supporting the plan.

Blago remains undecided, and even if Jones gets something through the Senate, House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) said he won't allow a vote until BJ does make up his mind.