Press Releases...

For Immediate Release:                                                                                   

January 17, 2006                                                                                            

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Watson Joins Colleagues in Seeking AG Ruling on Keno

Springfield, IL… State Representative Jim Watson (R-Jacksonville) has joined other House Republican members in calling on the Illinois Attorney General to offer an opinion on whether Governor Blagojevich has the authority to introduce Keno in Illinois without first obtaining legislative approval. 

“I don’t agree with the Governor’s argument that Keno is simply an extension of the lottery”   said Watson.  “Courts in other states have agreed that there is a distinction.  So I am joining with my colleagues in asking Attorney General Lisa Madigan for her opinion on the issue.  Due to the compressed schedule we are working under, we are asking for her urgent attention.”

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. 6A-0103) of September 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 the letter to Attorney General Madigan, Watson along with Representatives Jim Durkin, Mark Beaubien, and Brent Hassert, asserted that under Illinois law such an extension of gaming must be brought before the Illinois legislature for consideration. 

Besides the Governor’s argument that Keno is an extension of the lottery, Watson believes the bigger issue is the Governor once again side-stepping the legislative process on an important issue.  “I have been fortunate to work with legislators who respect the process;  I do not think these actions do that.”

Watson said that something this important and significant should be addressed in the General Assembly.