Senate President Cullerton tweaks Gov. Quinn on Chicago casino
By Fran Spielman City Hall Reporter fspielman@suntimes.com December 9, 2011 3:54PM
Governor Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, joined by federal, state and local officials to announce the largest open space project in the country, which will add 140,000 acres of green space to the Chicago area at the US bank 1000 e 111th Street. Friday, December 9, 2011. | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times
Updated: December 9, 2011 8:42PM
The environmental possibilities on Chicago’s Southeast Side are in the eye of the beholder. Where some politicians see eagles, others see casinos.
“There have been eagles right here in this very neighborhood. A lot of Americans have never seen an eagle fly. That’s our national emblem,” said Gov. Pat Quinn.
That created an opening for a political prod from Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) about the Hammond, Ind. casino nearby — and about the strings Quinn has attached to a Chicago casino.
“I don’t know if we can see any eagles here. But we definitely can see the Hammond casino. Which reminds me that you and I and the mayor have got to work on bringing a casino to Chicago so these Illinois gamblers spend their money in Illinois and not in Indiana,” Cullerton told Quinn as Emanuel laughed and the governor turned an embarrassed shade of pink.
“I want to thank John for his targeted remarks and we’ll move on,” Quinn said as the room dissolved in laughter.
Asked Friday where negotiations now stand on the stalled gambling bill, Quinn changed the subject, then followed Emanuel’s suggestion to hide behind the infant granddaughter of State Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago).
“Bring the baby on,” Quinn told Flowers, who was holding her granddaughter during Friday’s news conference.
