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BY KURT ERICKSON
Lee News Service | Saturday, June 21, 2008 | (No comments posted.)
SPRINGFIELD | State transportation officials and a handful of Illinois lawmakers continued their push Thursday to get a statewide construction plan in place.
But, without any new talks on the $34 billion measure, it appears that news conferences being held around the state in recent days are having no effect on the breaking the stalemate.
The proposal stalled in the House on May 31 over a number of factors that still haven't been addressed, said Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.
Among them are concerns by Chicago that the state wants too big of a share of the proceeds from a new casino that would be located there. In addition, there are worries that leasing the state lottery to raise money for the program would hurt state finances over the long term.
"Somebody has to recognize these huge flaws and address how they want to correct them," Brown said. "All of the running around and haranguing, I don't think that's doing much good."
On Thursday, a handful of Republican and Democratic lawmakers and top brass from the Illinois Department of Transportation held a press briefing alongside a section of Ill. 29 between Springfield and Taylorville where it narrows from four lanes to two lanes.
Work to widen the road has been under way for years. However, a six-mile stretch remains unfinished.
The statewide construction plan would allow the work to continue.
Until then, IDOT Secretary Milt Sees said, "the public will continue to be inconvenienced and placed at risk."
"Our potholes are going to get deeper," added state Sen. Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville.
The proposal would provide money for replacing bridges, widening Ill. 29 and U.S. 51 and repairing crumbling schools. Universities also would benefit from money for new buildings.
State Rep. Jay Hoffman, a Collinsville Democrat who is a key ally of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said Madigan is playing "petty politics" with the measure by blocking it from coming up for a vote.
"He needs to put aside his personal vindictiveness," Hoffman said. "Let's stop this inter-party bickering."
But at the news conference, Hoffman offered up no alternatives that would address Madigan's concerns.
"If the bill is called for a vote I'm convinced we'll be able to pass that bill," Hoffman said.
Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or (217) 789-0865.
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