 The state Supreme Court ruled Monday that the state's $31 billion
construction package is constitutional.Lawyers for the Wirtz
family, Illinois' largest liquor distributors, had challenged the
2009 law that sought to pay for new roads, bridges and schools by
raising taxes on beer, wine and spirits; creating new taxes on candy
and shampoo; collecting higher license plate fees; and legalizing
video poker. The Wirtz family said the plan violated Illinois'
single-subject requirement, in which any legislation must deal with
one subject.
But the state's high court ruled early Monday morning that the
law did deal with a single subject -- construction.
Justice Anne Burke, who authored the unanimous opinion, wrote:
"The various provisions have a natural and logical connection."
The ruling ends months of waiting for lawmakers and Gov. Pat
Quinn. Had the Supreme Court struck down the construction plan,
Quinn said lawmakers would "have to take immediate action" to
restore the money by holding a special session.
The governor had said earlier this summer that any disruption of
the construction program could eliminate 52,000 jobs and more than $16 billion worth of work
could grind to a halt.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT] |
