State Supreme Court ruling approves capital plan, Video Gaming Act gets go-ahead

Online Staff Report

Today, Monday, July 11, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the state’s 2009 capital and funding plans that will help put Illinois workers back to work, implement critical infrastructure projects and generate new revenues for local municipalities.

Among those revenue plans verified by the Supreme Court’s action is the Video Gaming Act, which will provide host municipalities with a key revenue source, enhance law enforcement and institute needed reform of the state’s unregulated gaming system.

“We praise the sound decision of the Supreme Court and stand one million members strong in support of the full implementation of the capital bill,” said Michael T. Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO. “Now the real work begins – putting thousands of hard-working men and women across the state back to work.”

The Illinois Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that questioned the structure and format of the capital bill and its various funding sources.

The decision gives the go-ahead for the $31 billion capital program that will save or create more than 400,000 jobs across the state over the next five years and infuse much needed capital in the state’s infrastructure. The bill and its funding sources was passed and approved in 2009 with strong, statewide, bi-partisan support.

“The Supreme Court has made a significant step in the right direction and we are eager to move forward with this critical investment,” said Jerry Roper, president and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. “Local municipalities should take this opportunity to move forward, jumpstart small businesses and vastly improve law enforcement and accountability measures.”

Back to Work Illinois, a broad coalition of civic, business, community and labor organizations, will be educating local communities on the benefits of opting back in to video gaming. The coalition will help communities understand that they will control 5 percent of video gaming tax revenues collected locally to be used for local priorities. That means new jobs and support for vital projects. With the formation of the coalition and its educational campaign in 2010, fewer municipalities across the state have opted out of video gaming.

“The Supreme Court understands this is a critical investment in our state’s many dedicated workers,” said Tom Villanova, president of the Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades Council. “Every municipality should leverage this bill and its funding sources for its local workers and economies.”

More information on the Capital Bill and the Video Gaming Act can be found at www.backtoworkillinois.com.

About Back to Work Illinois

Back to Work Illinois (BWI) is a broad coalition of civic, business, community and labor organizations dedicated to the successful implementation of Illinois’ capital investment plan.

BWI’s goal is to ensure that the capital program is fully funded and implemented in order to put Illinois residents back to work NOW, fund thousands of critical road, school and public works projects and generate new revenues to support municipal and county services, provide tax relief and improve law enforcement oversight.