Bomke calls for a halt to traffic safety division's move

[December 10, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- In light of Tuesday's arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges, state Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, is calling for the Illinois Department of Transportation to halt the move of its traffic safety division.

"I have never felt the decision to move the traffic safety division out of Springfield was about sound public policy," Bomke said. "The charges that the governor sought to leverage a senatorial appointment for selfish reasons, rather doing what was in the public good, reinforces those concerns. Until we find out the true motivation for moving the jobs, the traffic safety division should stay put."

In June, Blagojevich announced that he would be moving 150 jobs from Springfield to southern Illinois. After the July 31 hearing at the Statehouse, a panel of 12 lawmakers serving on the Commission on Forecasting and Government Accountability voted unanimously to recommend keeping the IDOT jobs in Springfield.

"While we need to let the legal process play out, these charges against the governor are serious, and suggest he made decisions based on personal gain, not sound public policy," Bomke said. "Even though COFGA voted to recommend keeping the traffic safety division in Springfield, the governor proceeded with the move. The COFGA decision should be final."

An impending court battle looked like the next step in the fight to keep the jobs in the capital city.

"We are going to do everything we can to save the jobs of the 150 IDOT employees," Bomke said. "Hopefully, the General Assembly will immediately begin the process of impeaching and removing this governor, so we can have a new administration who will base its decisions on what is good public policy, not political considerations."

[Text from file sent on behalf of Sen. Larry Bomke by Illinois Senate Republican staff]