Pork plays its own politics

SPRINGFIELD -- Nearly six years ago, officials with Lazarus House planned a new St. Charles shelter keyed on $50,000 from the state.

But then Gov. Rod Blagojevich was elected and halted the funding along with millions worth of similar project spending, denouncing it as political pork left behind by Gov. George Ryan's tarnished administration.

Until last week, when Blagojevich OK'd the Lazarus House money and several other Ryan-era projects.

Exactly why, the administration won't say. Numerous projects ranging from Des Plaines River flood control to suburban bridge construction got the budget ax.

Such is the nature of pork barrel spending, money subject to the political whim of leaders rather than any public debate of the merits.

Lawmakers loathe and love it.

On one hand, it's a rare opportunity -- especially for suburban politicians -- to bring home state tax dollars.

Without it, "we wouldn't see anything," state Sen. John Millner, a Carol Stream Republican said.

That's because household incomes and high property values tend to disqualify many suburban communities for state funding through traditional bureaucracies.

The idea behind letting members add on to the budget is that they know best what's needed back home.

On the other hand, questionable projects and the secretive nature of it all leads to inevitable criticism.

"I think there is this hidden feeling that the electorate has that we're helping out our friends, or doing something that isn't on the up-and-up," said state Sen. Randy Hultgren, a Winfield Republican.

This year is a prime example.

Initially, Blagojevich swore off the insider trading. But in recent years, he and lawmakers began cutting deals to get a budget approved.

This year, lawmakers cut Blagojevich out, coming up with millions for pet projects on their own and then sending the entire budget to him.

In response, he cut $141 million worth of specific projects, part of nearly $463 million in reductions made to accommodate bigger health care programs.

Lawmakers are expected to return to the Capitol in the coming weeks to try to restore the funding. Unless the House and Senate vote to do so, the governor's version of the nearly $59 billion state spending plan is final.

But a closer look reveals Blagojevich left intact every project requested by House Republicans, a few loyal House Democrats and those requested by lawmakers who happen to serve on an obscure, rule-making committee that may decide the future of Blagojevich's health care programs.

Also left intact were pools of money set aside for Senate Democrats, whose leader already said he would not support efforts to override the governor.

In short, Blagojevich rewarded allies and tempted House Republicans not to try to overrule his budget cuts.

Eliminated were projects requested by the House Democrats, led by Blagojevich's chief political rival -- House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago. Senate Republican's projects also were cut.

Asked to explain why some projects remained while others were cut, the administration offered this explanation .

"Some of the projects lawmakers included in the budget had little, if anything, to do with the mission of state government. Others may serve a purpose for a particular community or organization, but we can't afford to spend taxpayer dollars on them right now," said spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch.

But it was the mix that angered lawmakers.

"The indication was that he was going to be cutting all the member initiatives," said state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat.

Instead, her $100,000 request for a Prospects Heights flood control project was cut while money for everything from a Springfield ice skating group to suburban soccer fields was left alone by Blagojevich, who then toured suburban flooding the day after the cuts.

In fact, the final tally of $141.3 million in cuts to lawmakers' projects comes up well short of the $200 million in "pork projects" the governor previously said existed.

Hultgren is one of the Republicans serving on that obscure committee likely to consider Blagojevich's health care expansion. His projects were spared while other Senate Republicans' were cut.

The Winfield Republican doesn't like the implication that he can be bought for $1 million worth of projects.

"It's hard to know what to say. It just feels pretty blatant how this was done, blatantly political," Hultgren said. "It's not going to affect my vote."

And that's why Hultgren isn't calling up local leaders to tout the local projects.

He has little expectation that Blagojevich will fund them despite the initial approval. After all, lawmakers and myriad groups have been through this before.

Hultgren, pointed to a $100,000 state grant for the Wheaton Kiwanis for a Safety City project that's lingered since Hultgren came to Springfield nearly eight years ago.

"I'll be honest with you, I haven't even talked to them," Hultgren said, fearing he'd get their hopes up only to have funding dashed again.

Darlene Marcusson, executive director of Lazarus House knows the feeling. So, even though the long-awaited $50,000 is in the state budget, she's not counting on ever getting it. The organization borrowed the money to cover the state's share and has been paying it back with interest.

"If we get it, we'd be doing back flips," Marcusson said. "At this point, I'm not expecting it."