House Speaker Michael Madigan suggested on Wednesday to collect taxes from Joliet casinos that would fund the Rialto Square Theatre. According to Madigans law proposal, Harrahs Joliet Casino and the Empress Casino will have to pay a one-time tax of 1.5 million dollars each. The tax payments will sponsor the repairs and renovations of the Rialto Square Theatre.

Local Rep. Jack McGuire is also trying to promote two bills regarding Rialto funding. He said that he has not heard about Madigan law proposal before and that the idea took him by surprise.

McGuire has been pushing legislation where the states exposition authorities would be sponsored by authorized borrowing. Madigans offering puts McGuire in the difficult position where he has to choose between refusing funding for the Rialto or taking 3 million dollars in taxes from businesses which produce over 30 million dollars in revenues each year.