Illinois House votes to fire all Racing Board members

The Illinois state House on Wednesday voted 89-24 in favor of a bill that would fire all 11 members of the state’s Racing Board over its handling of a labor dispute at Fairmount Park Thoroughbred racetrack earlier this year. The bill now goes to the Senate, and if approved in that chamber, the 11 Board members will all lose their jobs unless Gov. Pat Quinn reappoints them.

The dispute arose over the Board’s allotting just three days of live racing to Fairmount in 2010 instead of 52 dates amidst allegations that the Board used its power for leverage for a tax increase as well as a dispute by four state employees over pensions and medical benefits.

Illinois Racing Board executive director Marc Laino disputed the allegations. “Recognizing financial crisis, the board was faced with a decision,” Laino told the Chicago Sun Times. “I thought it was fiscally responsible in using all the financial resources to award days even when it wasn’t fiscally feasible.”

A bill is currently in the Illinois state Senate that would increase Fairmount Park’s tax on pari-mutuel bets from 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent, which is less than half of what other racetracks pay. If that bill passes, then Fairmount’s 52-date meet would be restored.

Rep. Jay Hoffman, the sponsor of the bill to fire the Board members, said, “In order to make sure that next year the workers at Fairmount Racetrack don’t have to worry about unreasonable conditions being placed on their employment, I saw no other choice than to move this bill.”

« Back