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Kirk Proposes Plan to Up Private Funding
CHICAGO (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk is proposing legislation that would encourage privatization to create more money for transportation projects.

The Illinois Republican on Monday estimated his plan could spur more than $100 billion to build new highways, railroads, public transportation, airports and ports.

Illinois' junior senator says the proposal would remove federal restrictions on so-called private-public partnerships. One example, he says, is the money states could earn if they leased out their highway rest stops, as long as parking and restrooms remained free.

Kirk's Democratic counterpart in Illinois, Sen. Dick Durbin, recently introduced legislation that would put a close eye on privatization projects. Durbin wants to require state and local governments to repay federal money used for transportation before such assets are sold or leased to a private company.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
06 20 11 by Newsroom
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