[JULY 21, 2005] SPRINGFIELD -- The state of Illinois may be
losing out on federal road dollars because of decisions by the
Blagojevich administration to divert millions from the state's Road
Fund, according to state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.
The 44th District senator was in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to
meet with U.S. Speaker Dennis Hastert's staff about issues of
concern to Illinois residents, such as road funding. Brady says
Illinois may not have enough of its own road funds to secure federal
matching dollars.
"The governor has stolen more than $1.1 billion
from the Road Fund over three years, and that puts at great risk
whether or not we will be able to tap those federal resources,"
Brady said. "We have been concerned for three years that the
governor's raiding of the Road Fund would have a year-in and
year-out price to pay. Now it appears it has an even greater price
to pay. That gives us great concern."
Brady was also briefed about Medicaid and health issues.
"There also seems to be some great concern that the governor's
discontinuation of managed care in the area of Medicaid will cost us
additional federal resources," Brady said. "There seems to be a
great deal of emphasis on funding managed care programs in Medicaid.
This year, our governor abolished all managed care systems in the
state, which made us one of the only states that did not have some
sort of managed care in Medicaid. The federal government is wisely
moving toward managed care, like the private sector, so I hope this
will send a strong message to Governor Blagojevich."
