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| Another Battle Brewing Between Chicago Area and Downstate Illinois Lawmakers Over Road Money |
Once again it's Chicago the collar counties versus the rest of the state, and this time they're fighting over scarce road fund dollars.
Citing a study from the Legislative Research Unit, State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) said District 1, which is northeastern Illinois, hasn't been getting its fair share of the state's road fund for some time. Traditionally, District 1 is supposed to get 45 percent of the money and the rest of the state is supposed to get 55 percent.
Sandoval says not only has the Chicago area not been getting what it's supposed to get, but he and other Chicago-area legislators want to change the distribution so the Chicago area gets 55 percent, which leaves the rest of the state 45 percent with which to work.
But State Senator John Sullivan (D-Rushville), who sits on the Senate Transportation Committee with Sandoval, said not so fast. Sullivan says the study is flawed because it doesn't include money from bonds or construction accounts. Once you include those, he says the Chicago area gets pretty close to 45 percent, and in some cases it gets more.
Sullivan says it's ridiculous to consider changing the distribution because Districts 2 through 9 cover more than 80 percent of the state geographically, and though the roads in northeastern Illinois are used more heavily, geographic area must also be considered. He understands Chicago is an economic engine for the Midwest, but he says if roads Downstate aren't taken care of, it will be harder to get goods and people in and out of District 1.
(Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 05 15 09 by Newsroom |
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