Keno A No Go

By Amy Hart in News on Jan 25, 2006 4:45PM

Yesterday Governor Blagojevich decided that keno will not have a role in funding state construction projects. So if your gambling itch can’t be adequately scratched with the lottery and riverboat casinos, you might want to head up to Michigan.

Chicagoist heard rumblings a week ago that Blago, in the face of mounting criticism, was going to abandon his plan to allow keno in Illinois bars and restaurants. In addition, Attorney General Lisa Madigan was just starting a legal review of Blago’s stance that he could start keno drawings without permission from the state legislature.

Blago said he was abandoning his keno plan so that his capital funding plan would still have a chance in the legislature, but offered no ideas of where funding could come from.

A spokesperson for House Speaker Michael Madigan, who supported the keno proposal, said the criticism over keno mainly came from Republicans who are "playing politics, and people in towns all over the state are going to suffer."

We’re not ones to disagree with the speaker, but we think criticism came from nearly all sides, and pointing out poorly thought out ideas isn’t “playing politics,” it's being responsible citizens.