Mitchell seeks ruling on keno    

[JAN. 18, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, is joining several of his colleagues in calling on the Illinois attorney general to offer an opinion on whether Gov. Blagojevich has the authority to introduce keno in Illinois without first obtaining legislative approval.

"I oppose the governor trying to circumvent the legislature on an issue of this magnitude," said Mitchell. "The governor claims that keno is simply an extension of gambling. I disagree and believe that his plan to allow keno in restaurants and taverns across Illinois is a huge expansion of gambling and that by law it should be debated and discussed by the Illinois General Assembly. Today, my Republican colleagues are asking Attorney General Lisa Madigan for her opinion on the matter."

According to Mitchell, the California Supreme Court in Western Telcon Inc. et al. v. California State Lottery, the federal courts in Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe v. United States of America, and the Texas attorney general opinion No. 6A00103 of Sept. 23, 2003, have all ruled that keno and other video gaming terminals cannot be interpreted as a natural extension of the lottery under lottery laws.

In their letter to Attorney General Madigan, members of the House Republican caucus asserted that under Illinois law such an extension of gaming must be brought before the legislature for consideration.

"Several of my colleagues and I feel strongly that there is a definite distinction between the lottery and keno and that the General Assembly should have a say on whether or not we want keno in our communities," said Mitchell. "Many of my constituents are upset with the governor's keno proposal and don't want further expansion of gambling in Illinois. It is my hope that with the compressed session of the General Assembly that the Attorney General Madigan will give us her opinion right away."

[News release from Rep. Bill Mitchell]

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