Monday, January 17, 2005

Updated January 17, 2005 at 1:40 pm
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State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger [R- Elgin]: I think a lot of legislators, including myself, would support a casino complex in Chicago under the right set of conditions and understanding how the resources were going to be used.
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State Senator Steve Rauschenberger is featured on “Public Affairs,” throughout the City of Chicago tonight [Jan. 17 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21]. A partial transcript of the show with Senator Rauschenberger is included, below.
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Next Monday night’s “Public Affairs,” show in the City of Chicago features Cook County Board Member Forrest Claypool (D- Chicago), aka one of the four horsemen in President Stroger’s Apocalypse Now. The other three horsemen, of course, are Commissioners Quigley (D-Chicago), Suffredin (D- Evanston) and last, but certainly not least, Peraica (R- Riverside).
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Jeff Berkowitz: Sounds like you are going to be a candidate for Governor—

Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: I am very excited and I am very excited for the State of Illinois.

Berkowitz: Sounds like you are going to try to be the Republican candidate for Governor to oppose Governor Rod Blagojevich, assuming he does not face a primary challenge or assuming he survives it if there is…. Let us know in June if you have decided to run, is that the decision date?

Rauschenberger: … it will probably be in the summer.

Berkowitz: Casinos. Should Mayor Daley be given a casino that he owns, that he controls?

Rauschenberger: No. No. I don’t think--

Berkowitz: Should there be a casino in Chicago, at all.

Rauschenberger: I think a lot of legislators, including myself, would support a casino complex in Chicago under the right set of conditions and understanding how the resources were going to be used.
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Berkowitz: You’re OK with more casinos.

Rauschenberger: It’s not my first choice, but if people are asking me if I could support them under the appropriate—

Berkowitz: You don’t want them to be owned by the mayor-- of the City of Chicago?

Rauschenberger: I don’t think the mayor of Chicago—

Berkowitz: He should not be controlling.

Rauschenberger: Right, exactly. Now, it is one thing for the people of the City of Chicago to own it. I don’t have as much of a problem with that—

Berkowitz: CTA Funding. Should the State jump in and bail out the CTA?

Rauschenberger: I think we need to take an honest look at the CTA’s structural problems. Their Dial a Ride—their responsibilities to disabled customers are a major problem. They may need some fare box recovery. I think we ought to talk to the CTA…but some of us are a little tired with the City’s kind of full court press.

Berkowitz: Guns, Guns. Would you like to see a ban on assault weapons? There was one [such ban] on the federal [level for 10 years], it wasn’t renewed. Would you like the state [of Illinois] to step in and provide a ban on assault weapons?

Rauschenberger: I am very comfortable with the current state of gun laws. I think what we need to do is enforce the ones we have.

Berkowitz: Did you support the override of the Wilmette gun control ordinance [that provides for prosecution of residents who possess guns- even when they are used against home invaders.]

Rauschenberger, Yes, I did.

Berkowitz: Gun owners should be allowed to defend themselves [against home invaders] without being prosecuted for illegal possession of guns?

Rauschenberger: Absolutely.
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State Senator Rauschenberger interviewed on "Public Affairs," as it is being cablecast throughout the City of Chicago tonight, Jan. 17 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. This show was recorded on January 4, 2005.
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State Senator Rauschenberger debates and discusses with Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz Illinois First, spending and taxes in Illinois in recent and current years and under former Governor George Ryan, capital projects, school vouchers/school choice, Gun Control, the Assault Weapon Ban, state subsidies to the CTA and embryonic stem cell research.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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