Small Newspaper Group (Springfield Bureau)
House Democrats' mistrust scuttles capital budget
Governor's discretion a big concern
By STEPHANIE SIEVERS
5/31/2008
SPRINGFIELD -- Another legislative session, another year without a statewide capital construction plan.
State lawmakers adjourned the spring session late Saturday without approving a nearly $34 billion capital bill that would have funded roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects throughout Illinois.
The Illinois Senate approved the construction plan and its funding sources -- leasing the state lottery and expanding gambling -- earlier in the day, but the plan stalled in the House where Democrats said they had serious concerns about giving too much power to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
"To say we have to pass this capital bill simply because we want a capital bill is irresponsible," said Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie.
Lawmakers haven't passed a new statewide construction program in nine years. They and others have grown increasingly vocal that something must be done because the state's infrastructure is deteriorating.
House Republicans angrily demanded that the capital bill be called for a vote, but at the final hour Democrats blocked some funding measures in committee and then used a procedural maneuver to block using a gambling expansion on the floor, effectively killing the bill.
Some Democrats said they didn't want to see the state expand gaming with four new casinos and slots at horse racing tracks. But Republicans called it a ploy to put the breaks on a capital bill passing this session.
Blagojevich made a rare appearance in the House, working the floor and talking with lawmakers. He later told reporters that Illinois needs to stimulate its economy and create jobs and a capital construction program is a way to do that.
Some House Democrats said they had concerns about giving Blagojevich too much discretion in deciding where the capital funding is coming from, where it is going and which projects will be built.
"I'm concerned about giving the governor $30 billion or $31 billion or $33 billion when we have not enumerated where that money is going to go," said Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock.
But Blagojevich said the bill that passed the Senate was filled with all kinds of assurances and guarantees and satisfied the Senate and the House Republicans.
House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, said it didn't make sense for the Democrats to be willing to send Blagojevich an unbalanced state operating budget and expect him to make cuts while at the same time saying there isn't enough detail in the capital bill.
"Do they trust him or do they not? It's almost like they're using this trust as an excuse when they don't want something," he said. "The fact that we don't like someone is not an excuse for not getting our work done."
The capital plan had money for road projects and other construction projects, including $3.7 million to replace boilers and steam condensation lines at Pontiac Correctional Center, which the governor recently identified for closing, and $353,000 for life and fire safety improvements at Fox Developmental Center in Dwight.
Also included is $15 million toward the construction of a Western Illinois University riverfront campus in Moline and $2.1 million for the construction of a maintenance garage and plumbing improvements at the La Salle Veterans Home.
©Copyright The Small Newspaper Group, Springfield Bureau 2008