SPRINGFIELD – Economic opportunity and jobs are coming to Illinois, thanks to the leadership of Rep. Bob Rita and his colleagues at the state Capitol.

Rita, D-Blue Island, today joined Gov. Pritzker, lawmakers and other advocates for a bill signing ceremony at the Lincoln Depot in Springfield for Senate Bill 690, the major gaming expansion and sports betting law Rita helped lead passage for in May. The Governor also signed into law a plan that will support billions of dollars in capital construction to repair roads, bridges, transit systems and many schools, hospitals and other buildings needing repairs.

Rita spent six years working with Sen. Terry Link and other lawmakers in Springfield on a gaming expansion plan that will put casinos in six Illinois communities, including Chicago and the south suburbs, and create much greater economic growth around the state. That includes a new horse track racino likely to be placed in Tinley Park.

Link, in his remarks to the crowd assembled for the bill signing, credited Rita’s perseverance and cooperative approach to getting this measure passed after years of negotiations.

"He was a great partner pulling this over the finish line," Link said. "Representative Rita was a godsend to be a partner with."

Rita credited many people for today’s victory, from Gov. Pritzker and his staff, to Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature, to the legislative staffers who worked tirelessly to ensure the measure was put together correctly.

"There are two words that come to my mind: economic opportunities, not just for the state but for all of these regions and creating jobs and sustaining jobs," Rita said. "It’s about jobs for the state of Illinois."

Rita planned to join the Governor as he visited several cities on Monday to discuss the gaming and capital construction package. Watch Rep. Rita’s comments from today’s news conference here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlybKjpImVA&feature=youtu.be