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http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/04/01/opinion/130916.txt
Delayed
Pontiac funding symptom of bigger problem
4/1/2008
Daily
Pantagraph
Pantagraph Editorial Board
The state hasn't come through with the paperwork needed for Livingston
County to buy the old Illinois State Police Headquarters in Pontiac.
But it could be worse.
The state could say it's ready to move ahead with its offer to sell the
building and grounds to the county for $10, then never come through with the
rest of the deal: $1 million to restore the building, which is currently not
fit for occupancy.
The games being played with state funding for the old headquarters is a
symptom of the bigger problems in Springfield.
The holdup also is an example of why lawmakers and the governor are having
trouble coming up with a much-needed capital construction plan - a lack of
trust that causes lawmakers to doubt the governor's actions, even when they
were in writing.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the budget that included money for the police
headquarters project at the same time he used his amendatory veto to strike
out millions of dollars in other projects. Then he, essentially, made a deal
with Senate President Emil Jones to ensure his budget changes never came up
for a vote in the Senate.
In cutting the budget, Blagojevich struck nearly all the "legislative
initiative" projects for Democrats in the House - where the governor was
feuding with a fellow Democrat, House Speaker Mike Madigan. Blagojevich also
cut nearly all the Senate Republican initiatives.
State Sen. Dan Rutherford of Chenoa was among the few Republicans whose
projects weren't cut by Blagojevich. Rutherford also happens to serve on the
Joint Committee on Administrative Rules - a panel reviewing the governor's
plan for an expanded health care program.
You don't need to have a Ph.D. in political science to see the connection.
So far, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules has refused to go along
with the governor's plan. And, so far, the money hasn't been released for
the project in Rutherford's district.
At a time of financial difficulties for the state, there might be better
ways to spend $1 million than to restore an old building, even if it was
recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.
However, the governor could have used that argument more easily back in
August when he vetoed so many other projects.
Besides, rather than trim overall spending with his cuts, Blagojevich is
trying to redirect the money to his expanded health care program.
If the headquarters project is denied money - along with similar projects -
because of the state's financial situation, we can live with that. But the
governor shouldn't use it as a political pawn to be traded for votes.
Back in August, the governor said of the projects he didn't veto, "they must
support the right priorities." If so, he should release the money.
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