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| Durbin Reacts to Stimulus Bill |
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says he doesn’t think the federal stimulus package has to be Blagojevich-proof.
U.S. Reps. Mark S. Kirk (R-Highland Park) and Bill Foster (D-Geneva) added language to try to keep Gov. Rod Blagojevich from having any authority over how the Illinois stimulus money is spent, but the senator says that’s not necessary. Durbin says Blagojevich will likely be impeached before President Obama signs the economic stimulus plan.
Durbin also says Kirk and others didn’t think through that extra language, because if the federal law requires the Illinois money to be "approved in law," that means Blagojevich would either have to sign the state measure on how to spend the money, or let the bill sit for 60 days and automatically go into effect, which would cost time.
According to Durbin's office, the federal stimulus investments in Illinois could include the following:
* $2.7 billion for stabilizing the state's finances in general
For education:
* $860 million for school modernization, renovation and repair programs
* $40 million for Educational Technology State Grant
* $520 million for Title I elementary and secondary education funding
* $980 million for Pell Grants
* $160 million for Employment and Training
* $29 million for Head Start
For energy:
* $56 million for Low Income Home Energy Assistance
For health care:
* $7 million for Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grants
For infrastructure:
* $1 billion for highways and bridges
* $540 million for transit funding
* $260 million for clean water infrastructure
To help protect the most vulnerable in Illinois:
* $570 million for the Individuals with Disabilities Act
* $47 million for Community Service Block Grants
* $6 million for Elderly Nutrition Services
(Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 01 28 09 by Newsroom |
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