Chicago Sun-Times: Squarely in the corner of best deal for city

Ladies and gentlemen, in this corner we have Mayor Daley, the heavyweight Chicago booster who is willing to fight to the finish to get a casino located in his fair city. In the other corner, is spry challenger Gov. Blagojevich who threw a daring punch at the mayor last year by saying he would veto any proposal for a city-based casino. How do you want to place your bets?

At this point it's not certain who will be knocked out, but the match did get more bruising on Monday when the cagey mayor said he didn't like the governor's proposal to put more slot machines and table games in the nine existing Illinois casinos. The mayor said he preferred his own proposal for a Chicago-based casino. It would bring in more revenue, he said, up to $300 million for Chicago and up to $700 million for the state.

The governor has been pushing hard for his own gaming scheme, working, as we write, to get House and Senate leaders on his side. He says his suggestions could raise a more modest $300 million for the state's impoverished public schools. His gaming plan is also part of an effort to relieve a stinging $1.2 billion deficit in the 2006 budget.

The mayor's left curve Monday could mean the governor's gaming proposal will get blocked. Daley has a lot of legislators on his side of the ring. And some lawmakers have their own agendas. Senate leader Emil Jones, for one, has supported the idea of a Chicago casino in addition to one in the south suburbs and one in Waukegan, and he wants to add slot machines at racetracks.

In April, the mayor seemed willing to shelve his casino goal in order to focus on getting Springfield's assistance for the needy Chicago Transit Authority and underfunded city schools.

So his renewed casino push was like a sucker punch to the governor's plans. The mayor says his proposal is better than the governor's gaming plan because it provides more money for local needs, generates more money for schools, parks, police and fire stations, and "would take the pressure off local property taxes." And it gives the state more money, too.

We have long been in support of a Chicago-based casino, although there are concerns about a city-owned one in light of the rampant corruption that continues to be uncovered at City Hall.

But there is no question a local casino -- even if independently owned -- would remedy funding issues, such as the cash-poor CPS, and it would do much for Chicago tourism. Visitors wouldn't leave Loop hotels in busloads to go to Indiana's blackjack and roulette tables.

One of the governor's arguments against a Chicago casino is that it would mean an expansion of gambling. But he's splitting hairs. His idea of adding more slots to existing casinos is a de facto expansion. We hope he and Daley can put down the gloves and work it out in the city's favor.