AN EXPANSION OF GAMBLING, AN INCREASE IN THE CIGARETTE TAX AND MORE WILL HELP FUND A MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE APPROVED SATURDAY BY THE ILLINOIS HOUSE. 

SIX NEW CASINOS, SLOTS AT HORSE RACING TRACKS AND O’HARE AND MIDWAY AIRPORTS, MORE VIDEO GAMING AND SPORTS WAGERING ARE INCLUDED, AS WELL AS A DOLLAR A PACK TAX INCREASE ON SMOKES. THE MONEY GENERATED WILL GO TOWARDS “VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION” SUCH AS SCHOOLS, STATE BUILDINGS AND COLLEGES. THAT’S MUCH NEEDED SAYS REPRESENTATIVE MARGO MCDERMED OF MOKENA.

HELP PAY FOR MUCH NEEDED “VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION.” THAT INCLUDES REPAIRS TO STATE BUILDINGS, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES SAYS REPRESENTATIVE BOB RITA OF BLUE ISLAND.

THE CASINOS WOULD BE BASED IN CHICAGO, WAUKEGAN, THE SOUTH SUBURBS, ROCKFORD, DANVILLE AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY. THE SENATE WILL CONSIDER THE PACKAGE NEXT.