The Springfield City Council is on its way to banning minors from tanning parlors, and allowing bars and restaurants to have video poker machines.
The measures passed out of committee and are scheduled for debate next week.
Some aldermen likened tanning to a freedom that the government is trying to take away... but others, such as Ward 7 Alderman Joe McMenamin, says government bans minors from other activities -- and that's not considered liberty infringement.
"I see not much difference between this and rules against youth being forbidden from going into taverns and drink beer, or buying cigarettes, or having a driver's license."
If passed it would apply only to tanning parlors within Springfield city limits -- which worries some aldermen, who say that means minors can still go to Southern View, Grandview or other county locations with parental permission.
Ward 5 Alderman Sam Cahnman, who's sponsoring the ordinance, says someone has to take the lead on this issue -- even though the county's not on board yet.
Meanwhile, aldermen also approved an ordinance to lift the city's ban on video gambling, which will soon be allowed statewide as a revenue source for Illinois' capital construction program.
Though no video gambling licenses have so far been awarded, Ward 1 Alderman Frank Edwards says businesses in other cities have gotten a head start on preparations.
"Our businesses are behind because those out in the county have been able to get their licenses secured," he says. "That means they can go to vendors and start discussing business operations with machines. They can start building their walls to isolate the machines so only [those 21 and older] can go in those parts."
Under state law the city would get five percent of all revenues from video gambling machines with in city limits. Mayor Mike Houston says that money will go toward infrastructure.