Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Gaming Association, says Illinois casinos are down 20.3 percent, while Indiana casinos, with the same weather and economy, but no smoking ban, are down by only three-quarters of a percent. Swoik had predicted a 19 percent drop in Illinois casino revenues due to the smoking ban. It is clear that casino people like Swoik knew their business better than the American Cancer Society.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-casino-revenuesdec04,0,1201776.story

Illinois could solve its smoking ban problem by instituting the Chicago air filtration exemption statewide: Any venue can allow smoking that through air filtration makes its air cleaner than the air outdoors.

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_ATTACH/MunicipalCode7-32_1.html#7_32_080

I was in Chicago this week and must say going out there is a pleasure compared to smokey St. Louis. One of my good friends also told me so has almost stopped smoking entirely because she does not smoke in bars anymore and she could not be happier. So I guess my point is Bill, I am not sure what ‘problem’ you are referring to. Everyone I know in Illinois loves it!

Read the US Constitution everybody.

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

The more we all understand it the more we can detect abuses of it. This probably should be required reading at the Post Dispatch since they seem to have forgotten what it really is all about.

Richard, do you think St. Louis City could handle a 20 percent reduction in casino revenues? How do you think East St. Louis feels about these lost taxes?

The Illinois Licensed Beverage Association told me that bar business is down across Illinois due to the smoking ban too. Illinois bars along the Missouri border are down as much as 60 percent or more.

A new movement by some citizens of the United States is gaining momentum to pressure politicians in Washington, D.C., to provide an economic stimulus package for the citizens of the United States that are 18 and older. This economic stimulus package makes the most sense to boost the economy.

Let the citizens of the United States receive their tax dollars back in the form of an economic stimulus package, because who deserves our tax dollars in a form of payments more than us. After we receive our tax dollars, we can purchase an automobile (helping the Automakers), pull our homes out of foreclosure (helping the real estate market and banks), purchase goods and necessities (helping the retail markets), purchase stocks and bonds in whatever companies we choose (helping Wallstreet), pay off student loans (helping reduce loan debt), pay off credit cards (reducing personal debt), and donate money to charities that we see fit (increasing the culture of giving). Yes, some fools and their money would soon depart, but the ends would justify the means.

Imagine if $7.4 trillion dollars was allocated to the American Citizens of the United States 18 years of age and older, instead of to greedy Corporations that have already shown that they will blow the money on retreats and other bullcrap. This is not rocket science folks!

Here is a standing challenge to any Congressman, or Senator of the State of Missouri (Republican or Democrat):

Introduce a bill for a massive economic stimulus package for the citizens of the United States, and you are guaranteed re-election for the rest of your life if is passes. I will vote for you and every other registered voter will in the State of Missouri!

I am curious if Arnie Robbins and any so-called journalists at the PD are going to demand to see Obama’s real birth certificate and his selective service registration form after they finish looking at Blunt’s e-mails (local reference Jo)?

Think/…it was your hero George W. Bush who said the U.S. Constitution is just another GD piece of paper. Put your constitution where your mouth is, and your vote. Little late to be preaching to the choir?

Mary Homan is a nanny state busybody running for alderman in the 23rd ward. St. Louis doesn’t need another political leader who doesn’t care about the property rights of St. Louis businesses.