Legislative Update
During the last couple of weeks news throughout the state has focused on our horrific budget circumstances, which of course deserve the utmost attention. The state’s financial dilemma is without a doubt the most pressing problem facing Illinois, and will almost assuredly remain so for the next year (likely longer), but there are some other issues relating to state government that do have a positive tone.
One of those items happens to be the statewide capital construction program which was signed into law by Governor Quinn a couple of weeks ago. I haven’t really had an opportunity to discuss it here, yet, but over the next couple of weeks I will keep you up to date on some of the potential projects that may be beginning in our area.
The statewide infrastructure program, dubbed Illinois Jobs Now!, is expected to funnel around $30 billion over the next six years into the state’s ailing roads, bridges and schools. Projects range from ordinary resurfacing of crumbling roads to the construction of higher education facilities and even new technology ventures such as high speed internet. Probably the most critical aspect of the construction program, the first in over a decade, is its boost to the struggling Illinois’ economy. Illinois Jobs Now! is expected to create nearly 450,000 jobs. A list of projects to be included in the construction program can be found at www.JobsNow.illinois.gov.
Over the next couple of weeks Governor Quinn will likely be signing quite a few pieces of legislation into law. There are hundreds of bills sitting on his desk awaiting final approval and I will try to keep you up to date on which ones become final statute and others that are sent back to the General Assembly with changes for further review.
Only in Chicago
As the state’s budget quagmire continues to deepen, it is stories like this that seem to go out of their way to antagonize the hardworking, taxpaying Illinois citizens. Last week I was skimming through the newspapers and stumbled across an article about the16-Inch Softball Hall of Fame being created in Chicago. No problems with that, as the game was invented in the Windy City back in 1887. Over one thousand fans and players crammed Forest Park to reminisce of the great softball days and watched as all star players were honored with commemorative plaques. This was the supposedly the beginning of what will be the first 16-inch Soft Ball Hall of Fame in the nation. As I kept reading a startling figure popped out, State Senator Ricky Hendon (D-Chicago) pledged a $500,000 state grant to complete the commemorative museum within a year. When questioned about the grant Hendon responded, “We’re going to find the money somewhere.” Half a million dollars on a museum commemorating a softball game where the players don’t even use gloves, all while the state just barrowed itself into oblivion because it can’t afford to come up with enough money to pay the bills? This idea clearly needs to strike out.
