|
Capital projects worth a look, but Democratic plan lacks details
Illinois communities would benefit from capital improvement projects
-- especially those that were formerly approved by prior governors
but frozen by the Blagojevich administration -- but the Democratic
plan being floated right now lacks important details.
And details are necessary because borrowing an additional $3
billion for capital projects will add to the state's already
staggering debt. We need to know more about the funding source for
repaying debt incurred by the bonds, AND we need a guarantee that
the money will be distributed to all parts of the state -- not just
to Chicago or to Democratic districts.
It is also important to note that a good portion of the money
needed for many of the road projects could have been paid for in
cash if Blagojevich budgeteers had not raided more than $1 billion
from the state's Road Fund the last three years.
It's unfair to Illinois taxpayers to push a bond program without
getting these answers. There are also questions about if these bonds
would be competitively bid or negotiated by the governor to help
companies that contribute to his campaign. We just can't trust this
administration.
[to top of second column in this article] |
 Excellence in Agriculture scholarships available
An Excellence in Agriculture scholarship program is available for
high school students interested in pursuing a career in agriculture.
The Illinois State Treasurer's Office awards five $2,500
scholarships annually to Illinois high school seniors who plan to
enroll as full-time students in agriculture or agriculture-related
studies and will be committed to pursuing a career in agriculture or
an agriculture-related field.
For more information, contact the treasurer's Office of Economic
Development at (217) 558-6215 or check
www.state.il.us/treas.
Happy New Year
A new year brings new beginnings, new goals, new opportunities
and new challenges. I look forward to working with you all to make
Illinois a better place to live and work in 2006. Happy New Year to
you, your families and your friends!
[From
Sen. Bill Brady] |
