7am News, Sports and Obits

Latest WGIL news
Click to play or
Right click and "Save Target As" to download
Click for Galesburg, Illinois Forecast
Home - Cancellations - Community Events - Contact Us - Mornings - News - Obituaries - Pictures - Programs - Special Events Audio - Sports - Weather
What State Capital Program?
The state's $35 billion capital program has barely gotten off the ground because of the same complaint found in every corner of state government: Not enough money.

State lawmakers have approved the use of $100 million in Road Fund money to give state government at least some of the money it needs to start selling bonds for the jobs program, and unions have been getting antsy about when the construction jobs would start. While lawmakers passed the Road Fund diversion, they say they'll likely have to reconsider funding for the capital plan when they return to the Capitol in January.

The funding sources for the road, bridge, and school construction program are:

* Video poker revenue, which won't start for at least a year

* Increased taxes on alcohol, which attracted a lawsuit, so the money can't be used

* Increased drivers' fees and other fees, which aren't coming in as high as expected.

Gov. Pat Quinn says he'll quickly sign the diversion legislation because he wants Illinois to see more construction jobs.

(Illinois Radio Network)
11 06 09 by Newsroom
News management powered by Xpression News

Click here for the WGIL News Archive

Click here for national news

The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.