Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Senate President Emil Jones emerged together from a budget summit Friday, with the governor opening the door to supporting a broad gambling and revenue package that both hoped would boost funds for schools and health care.
Jones’ gambling proposal, including a casino in Chicago and three suburban riverboats, advanced in the Democratic-led Senate even as Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) cautioned that the House may only support a version without new casinos.
Blagojevich made his first public appearance since the Tribune disclosed Wednesday that federal authorities have subpoenaed his campaign fund in a corruption investigation into whether top aides and advisers exchanged state business and jobs for political work. He ignored reporters’ questions about subpoenas.
The governor said he wanted to work out a budget deal with fellow Democrats Jones and Madigan before next Thursday’s adjournment deadline in order to cut out Republican lawmakers, who after then likely would be needed to pass the plan.
In addition to the politically optimistic $2 billion gambling package, Jones asked his colleagues to consider several taxes that could individually raise from $500 million to $1.2 billion per year, many of which may attract opposition.
Blagojevich said Jones’ plan is a “constructive” alternative to his unpopular $7 billion gross receipts tax.
“Like anything else, if you’re willing to compromise, you’ve got to accept some things that you’re really not in love with,” Blagojevich said, “and the idea of more gaming is not something that I like, but I am prepared to accept it if it means every citizen in our state can get access to affordable, quality, comprehensive health care.”
Actually, Blagojevich’s plan for medical coverage for uninsured adults must be slashed by two-thirds because of lower revenue projections, said Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete).
Jones and Blagojevich voiced support for the gross receipts tax, known as “GRT,” but Halvorson said Senate Democrats are focused on revenue alternatives. “GRT is off the table,” she said.
House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego offered his own “no tax increase budget,” which relies on growing state revenues, cutting pork projects and a scaled-down expansion of gambling to fund various construction projects.
Madigan suggested the Cross gambling plan, which would add positions only at existing casinos, would stand a better chance in the House than the broader Senate bill.
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