Illinois business group backs lottery idea
28 May 2008
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois -- As reported by the Pantagraph: "A top business group has put its weight behind a plan to expand gambling in the state and lease most of the Illinois Lottery to a private company.
"The Illinois Chamber of Commerce Tuesday lent its support for the gambling concept because it would pay for billions in improvements to the state's aging roads and bridges.
"...Gov. Rod Blagojevich has proposed spending $31 billion raised by gambling expansion and a lottery lease on a statewide construction plan.
"...The Illinois Chamber of Commerce's support comes a year after the group was part of the opposition to Blagojevich's business tax increase that would have paid for a construction plan, as well as massive health care expansion and other initiatives."