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Gov.
Blagojevich rallies support from the NAFC for Illinois Works, the
comprehensive capital plan to funds roads, bridges, transit,
schools, environment and energy projects statewide
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Plan
will support 725,000 jobs, provide $300 million more in annual
funding for Illinois schools
[October 04, 2007]
CHICAGO -- As the veto session began on
Tuesday, Gov Rod R. Blagojevich joined leaders with the National
Alliance for Fair Contracting at their ninth annual conference to
rally support for Illinois Works, the comprehensive capital program
that funds roads, bridges, transit, schools, and environment and
energy projects throughout Illinois. The $25.4 billion capital plan
was passed unanimously by the Illinois Senate on Sept. 18.
Blagojevich and a growing coalition are urging members of the
Illinois House to work across party lines and pass the legislation,
which is expected to support more than 725,000 jobs statewide.
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 "Illinois Works is more than an investment in our state's aging
infrastructure, it's also an investment in our skilled and able work
force," said Blagojevich. "For eight years, the state has gone
without a capital plan that would make much-needed improvements to
our roads, bridges, transit systems and schools. Every community in
this great state feels the consequences of that neglect. And men and
women who are eager to get to work have had to sit back and wait for
their leaders in Springfield to put differences aside and move
forward with a capital plan. Two weeks ago, members of the Illinois
Senate came together and passed the most ambitious building plan in
our history. Now it's time for the Illinois House to do the same."
"We applaud the governor and the Senate for coming together in a
bipartisan effort to pass Illinois Works," said Edward Smith,
chairman of the National Alliance for Fair Contracting. "Our men and
women have seen a decline in their hours over the past few years.
Passage of this bill will ensure that these hard workers would be
able to provide for their families."
Illinois Works would be funded with new revenue generated from a
publicly owned casino in Chicago and two other new casinos, along
with an expansion of positions at existing casinos. In addition to
providing money to improve statewide infrastructure, the legislation
would also provide $300 million more each year for schools
statewide, building on the $550 million education funding increase
included the budget for fiscal 2008. For school districts in
southern Illinois, that means a total increase of $17.15 million
every year.
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Combined with federal, state and local funds, the multiyear
statewide program will provide:
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$15.625 billion to
build and improve roads and bridges.
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$4.875 billion for
K-12 and higher education school construction projects.
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$2.588 billion for
public transit, passenger rail and airports.
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$6.25 billion for
economic development projects that will enhance Illinois
communities.
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$1.116 billion for
environmental and energy projects that will improve drinking and
wastewater facilities statewide, redevelop brownfields, and
improve and repair state-owned dams.
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$553 million to
renovate and expand state facilities across Illinois.
The Illinois House is expected to take up Illinois Works during
the fall legislative session, which began Tuesday.
[Text from file received from the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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