The governor recently unveiled a $31 billion public works plan including, among other things, funding for school construction and road repairs. Republican leaders, including Tom Cross, have said that the state's infrastructure desperately needs the increased funding this bill will provide. The problem is that Cross (nor anyone else, for that matter) can really say exactly where the money to pay for this project is going to come from. The popular answer is from new gaming revenue and the possible sale of the Illinois lottery to a private vendor.
That is insulting. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that gaming can't bring in $31 billion for the state, no matter how much it is expanded. A University of Illinois economist estimated that the increased gaming revenue cited as a funding source for the bill's appropriations will probably only account for $7-10 billion of the $31 billion -- begging the question of where the missing $24 billion will come from.
Since the Dems control both houses of the legislature and figure to for a while yet, I have an educated answer to that question: tax increases.
As far as the actual bill is concerned, it is rather humorous that Hastert and Poshard are getting all of the credit for pushing it -- an idea that supposedly came straight from the governor's office. If that doesn't show how unpopular Governor Rod truly is, I don't know what does.
The capital plan was voted down in the House on Saturday night.
Absent some sort of miracle, I doubt anything like it will be passed prior to 2009.
As far as the actual bill is concerned, it is rather humorous that Hastert and Poshard are getting all of the credit for pushing it -- an idea that supposedly came straight from the governor's office.
Not humorous - sad. Arguably the most powerful Republican in the state, and he has been out pushing for expanded gambling and the sale/lease of the lottery (bye-bye long term revenue stream).