Video Gaming Ban Approved
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As
you probably know, the state passed the Illinois Video Gaming Act in July, which
allows video gambling, but permits counties and municipalities to prohibit
video gaming by ordinance. Last month I
introduced an ordinance to reiterate
Cook County's prohibition on Video Gambling in
unincorporated areas in light of the new state law. Today, Commissioner Gainer and I held a public hearing to
discuss this proposal and give citizens, businesses, as well as local
municipalities, the opportunity to speak out on this issue.
As evidenced by the heavy turnout, as well as
the numerous phone calls my office has fielded this past week, video gambling
is a sensitive issue for the citizens of Cook County. I attempted this afternoon to re-craft my proposed
ordinance to give local
municipalities and townships the opportunity not just to speak out
at a public hearing, but to have direct say about what is right for
their communities and the pockets of unincorporated land which surround them. I was outvoted by Commissioners
from the city of Chicago,
Commissioners whose districts have no unincorporated areas wherein the ban will
apply.
Though
I was not able to amend the ordinance to allow more local control, I voted in favor of the ban on video gaming
in unincorporated Cook
County, and the ordinance was approved. I still believe
video gaming is an increasingly predatory form of gambling that is
inappropriate as a revenue stream for public services.
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Amendments to the Ethics and Lobbyist Ordinances
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At today's Finance Committee Meeting, the amendments to the Ethics and Lobbyist Ordinances, which I co-sponsored, were approved.
These amendments impose a variety of measures that will help provide greater transparency as to the individuals and entities lobbying County officials and employees on contracts and decisions. Such measures include:
-
Additional reporting
requirements for lobbyists including lobbyist expenditures and activities, as well as
the creation of a publicly searchable online database where lobbyist reports will be available.
- Former Cook County
officials and employees are prohibited from lobbying the County for one year following the termination date of employment or term of office
- Increased penalties for late filing to fall in line with the current State of Illinois penalties
for late filing--this means an increase from $100/day to $150/day
- All Request for Proposal (RFP) submissions related to Cook County contracts must
include the name of any individual lobbyist as well as the lobbying
firm used in developing the RFP
- All Cook
County Board Meeting agendas and contract recommendations must include
the identity of any individual lobbyist and/or lobbying firm retained
by the proposer of the contract.
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