Springfield, IL – Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has called the gambling expansion package that moved through the legislature "top-heavy."
The plan calls for five new casinos and for slot machines to be added to horse racetracks.
Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago)used a parliamentary maneuver to keep the legislation from going to the governor so Quinn could possibly kill it.
Cullerton expects to hold onto the measure until October.
That is when Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield for the fall veto session.
"There is no sense," says Cullerton, "in giving it to him (Quinn) to veto it."
Quinn called the decision a "curious maneuver."
"I mean if you believe in a bill," says Quinn, "and apparently there are members of the House and Senate who believe in the bill, then not to send it to the governor is, I feel, kinda curious. Sort of odd."
Cullerton, who does support the gaming plan, says he wants to use the extra time to try to change the governor's mind or to devise a way to accommodate his concerns.
Cullerton placed the same type of hold on another proposal, which Quinn promised to veto.
It allows ComEd and Ameren to raise electric rates to pay for upgrades to the power grid.
Such holds could theoretically stay in place until January of 2013.