 "Anybody who says it's a manufactured crisis ought to read the
Illinois Constitution," Quinn said. "It's crystal clear that we
cannot spend a penny for work done after the first of July."With
the rumble of the Tri-State Tollway around him, Quinn on Thursday
said House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, and Senate Republican
Minority Leader Christine Radogno, of Lemont, have said they will
support an up-or-down vote on the construction package. That vote
could come on Wednesday.
Without an agreement from all four legislative leaders by Friday,
and then a vote by Wednesday, Quinn said he would have to halt
construction across the state. The leaders who have yet to respond
are Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, and House Republican
Leader Tom Cross, of Oswego.
State Rep. Patrick Verschoore, D-Milan, said the state cannot
afford to let construction projects shut down. Workers are widening
and resurfacing the main runway of the Quad Cities International
Airport, Verschoore said.
"If they don't get that finished, then they are going to shut
that airport down, because they will not allow them to use temporary
runway during the winter," Verschoore said. "That is one project
that is very important."
State Rep. Richard Morthland, R-Cordova, said he was concerned
about the possible delay of the new Western Illinois University-Quad
Cities Riverfront Campus.
"This isn't a year-round construction season state," Morthland
said. "Here in farming, we say you have to make hay when the sun
shines, and in construction, you have to make road when ground is
not frozen. And so delays or setbacks could be very detrimental."
Quinn, who won re-election based, in part, on his pledge to be
the "jobs governor," reiterated that he is being forced to act.
"This is a real emergency," Quinn said.
The road program is in trouble because Senate Democrats tied its
reauthorization to $430 million in additional spending for education
and human services. Senate Republicans, and both parties in the
House, balked at the extra money and left town without resolving
questions about the construction package.
State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, disagreed with Quinn about
construction being in danger of stopping.
"There is obviously money that is in the pipeline in
transportation and in capital that would continue coverage going,"
Syverson said. "But clearly for the uncertainty that is there from
contractors and communities, this should have been done weeks ago.
We should not have left Springfield until this was done, so delaying
it has clearly created the problem."
[to top of second column]
 |
State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, said Quinn is only
threatening to halt construction projects.
"I voted against the continuation of the payments for an
additional six months, but he now has legislative authority to
continue payments until the end of the year," Franks said. "I think
he can do it, but I think what he is doing is trying to … strong-arm
the Senate."
Quinn told Cullerton that the immediate focus should be the road
program. Other budget questions on education and human services
spending can wait.
"I'm open-minded to (the additional spending)," Quinn said. "I
said I thought there ought to be a full review and debate on that in
the fall, in the veto session."
Madigan and Cullerton have said they will call lawmakers back for
regular session, avoiding the need for Quinn to order a special
session and avoiding the costs of a special session. Lawmakers do
not get paid for regular session days in the summer. Special session
days would cost taxpayers nearly $50,000 a day.
The state's construction program should continue uninterrupted,
Cullerton said in an emailed statement.
"There are still major structural deficiencies in the House
budget that will become clear in the months ahead," Cullerton said
in the statement. "I look forward to having the opportunity to
address issues such as the underfunding of education and social
service commitments."
The governor said he doesn't care how lawmakers are called back
to Springfield, so long as they get there.
"My objective is to get them down there, get a vote on our job
recovery bill, ... roll up our sleeves and get the job done," Quinn
said.
State Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, said lawmakers should keep
construction projects separated from the extra spending for
education and human services.
"Let's have these budget discussions, but let's not try to hijack
and try to hold hostage," Eddy said. "That's what got us into this
mess, so let's try to stay away from those practices and try to come
up with some realistic spending amounts."
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
Diane S.W. Lee contributed to this article. |
