The Illlinois House needs a budget within a week, but Democrats have ruled out higher sales or income taxes. Instead, they may rely on new gaming revenue. Chicago Public Radio’s Shawn Allee reports one gaming proponent says that’s fine, if it’s done right.

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Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says he’ll support new casinos, especially if one’s in Chicago.

But he says the state and the city should split control … and revenues.

Daley says, that way, everyone can count on revenue for the long haul.

Daley: Is it actual funding over a number of years, or is it one-shot of funding? If they go the old way of giving a license to an individual who in turn flips it, and makes five hundred, eight hundred or a billion dollars, then we don’t gain anything from that.

Daley says, if Illinois does expand gaming, the state’s got to set spending priorities.

In his opinion, those should be education, property tax relief, and new capital programs, including mass transit.

I’m Shawn Allee.

Chicago Public Radio.