| Executive Director Email Tony S. Membership/Questions Email Noel A. Insurance Questions Email Marlene R. |
|
|
|
|
|
15 Spinning Wheel Road, Suite 432 • Hinsdale, IL 60521 |
|
Monday, March 22This letter appeared in the Chicago Sun Times SAVE HORSE INDUSTRY JOBS In a letter to the editor Thursday, Anita Bedell uses her dislike of track owners as one reason to not approve slot machines and condemn a vital agricultural industry in our state. She completely misses the mark. Veterinarians, hay farmers, blacksmiths, equipment and seed dealers, trainers, breeders -- the list goes on -- benefit from a robust horse industry. In all, that's more than 30,000 jobs. Illinois is losing horses, breeding programs and trainers to other states that provide more lucrative racing incentives because they allow video gaming at their race tracks. That means our state suffers countless millions in lost tax revenue. This is not an expansion of gaming, as Bedell claims. In fact, Illinois has already legalized the use of video gaming, but because of an overwhelming rejection by communities, legalized machines have no place to go. The horsemen of Illinois simply want to take those rejected machines and place them in a more suitable venue at racetracks where gaming has existed for more than 100 years. Men and women are fighting for their agricultural jobs; they are fighting to compete fairly with other states that have an advantage over the Illinois horse industry. Our goal is to save jobs. It is a quick and easy solution. Save the capital bill, save jobs. Dave McCaffrey, President |
 Notes and Quotes
|
