Illinois General Assembly

Scaled-back Construction Plan Gets Lawmaker's Approval

For Immediate Release
April 2, 2009

Contact Doug Wilson (dwilson@whig.com)
Herald-Whig Senior Writer
(217) 221-3372

Springfield, IL... Applause broke out in the Illinois House after legislators approved a $3 billion mini-capital plan for repairs on highways, bridges and transit late Thursday.

"I think it was 9:30 or 10 p.m. when we finished that vote." said Rep. Jil Tracy, R-Mount Sterling.

The capital bill, the first approved by the General Assembly in 10 years, will be combined with about $6 billion more in federal stimulus dollars. State bond funds will be financed with annual use of $200 million in fuel tax dollars and $100 million from the state's general fund.

It took a two-thirds vote to pass the bonding bill, and Gov. Pat Quinn played a part in easing concerns by House Republicans who had wanted a list of projects that will be tackled. No complete list was available, but Quinn pledged to make sure projects are equitably distributed.

"Today's actions are a great example of what we can accomplish when we come together with a common purpose." Quinn said after the vote.

Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, was among Senate leaders who met with Quinn earlier Thursday to seek help in winning passage in the House.

"There are no earmarks at all in this." Sullivan said before an amendment was added in the Senate.

Senate staff members had estimated that about $64 million in projects would be done in Sullivan's district.

The Illinois Department of Transportation will come up with the final list of projects to be done with both the state bonding and federal stimulus dollars.

"This mini-capital bill is supposed to get people to work as soon as possible. It's for maintenance and repair. It's not for new construction." Sullivan said.

Rep. Rich Myers, R-Colchester, was pleased to see that traditional funding formulas are being used in this funding program. There had been concerns earlier that Chicago area lawmakers might seek a higher share of the funds. Chicago and the collar counties traditionally get 45 percent of state transportation dollars, and the remainder of the state gets 55 percent.

"The work is going to be based on the five-year plan." Myers said.

Sullivan, Tracy and Myers all voted for the capital program.

Each agree more work is to be done to pass a major capital plan of about $25 billion by May. The larger capital plan could be used for new construction, on highways, bridges, schools, sewer or water projects and other infrastructure. However, legislators have not yet identified a tax increase or other funding source to pay for that part of the capital program.

Quinn had pledged to have a capital construction program in place by today. He made that a priority, because the Illinois Department of Transportation is starting to award contracts for projects.