Lang On Gov. Quinn: 'Perhaps He Isn't Thinking Clearly'

Just one day after Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed the Illinois Gaming Bill, State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) fired back in a video posted on YouTube.

"The governor's view on gaming is very disappointing," Lang said. "This is the man who ran on the platform for being the jobs governor and yet a bill that would create a raise [of] 90,000 jobs in the state of Illinois is vetoed by the governor.

"Perhaps he is not thinking clearly about the economic development in this bill," Lang added. "Perhaps it doesn't bother him that thousands of people go to Indiana from Illinois everyday to do something that is already a legal activity in the state of Illinois."

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Yesterday, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he will work "relentlessly" to pass a bill that would allow a casino to be built in Chicago.

"It is the responsibility of the Governor and all leaders in Illinois to stop this outflow of dollars and jobs," Emanuel said. " ... It cannot take another 20 years of discussion to draft and pass a bill that will be signed into law."

Quinn's biggest gripe with the last bill was a stipulation that allowed casino owners to donate money to local politicians. The governor fears that the measure would open the door to more corruption in Chicago.

"I think I did the right thing," "We're not going to have loopholes for mobsters in Illinois, and the bill that was on my desk was woefully deficient when it came to protecting integrity and honesty in the regulation of gambling in our state."

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Read more: See our previous coverage on Lang

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