http://www.pjstar.com/stories/102905/TRI_B7VLVLV3.062.shtml

EAST PEORIA - City officials Friday considered Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's latest legislative maneuver the equivalent of popping a balloon behind their backs.

Here's a pretty fair piece from the next day that gives some examples of how much the casinos are kicking back to the people of Illinois. Well, "people of Ill,", you aren't ever gonna get a check in the mail but the gold plating on your government will be a bit shinier. I apologize to any politicos who were frightened by the phrase "kicking back".

Getting to be a pretty common theme whereby government becomes dependant on ickey pooie gambling money. Across the river in Washington state, Tacoma is looking at the horror of their looming ban of cardrooms at the end of the year...sounded so noble years ago when it was instituted. Kenmore, up the road, is realizing that easy gambling money is different than real leadership. Gold plating isn't free it seems.

Daily coverage on this from all over the country can be found at http://www.pechanga.net Primarily providing Indian gaming information, just click "Gaming" for the rest of the news.