Hastert, Poshard enlisted to promote construction
SPRINGFIELD -- Retired Congressman Denny Hastert plans to spend the coming weeks traveling the state checking out pothole-filled roads, crumbling bridges and outdated schools.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday named Hastert and Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard, also a former congressman, to head a panel tallying the state's construction needs and building political support for a deal to meet them.
A Blagojevich spokeswoman said the two are not being paid.
"I'm going to drive the roads of Illinois. We're going to listen to folks and see what they have to say," said Hastert, a Plano Republican and the longest-serving Republican U.S. House speaker.
But Hastert made it clear he is not endorsing Blagojevich's plan to pay for construction or any other financial plan. The governor has proposed a $25 billion construction-spending spree with the state's share to come from selling off rights to the state lottery.
Lawmakers have nixed similar deals and haven't warmed to the latest version. Hastert told reporters his new job does not involve selling Blagojevich's idea.
"I'm not carrying water for the governor or anybody else," he said.
A spokeswoman for Blagojevich said the governor remains open to other ways to pay for construction.
"As long as they don't rely on a tax increase," said Rebecca Rausch.
Hastert said his main interest is in the state finding a way to get $9.3 billion in federal construction dollars collected from Illinois gas sales. But if the state can't come up with matching funds, those dollars will pay for projects elsewhere.
Hastert, a former state lawmaker before being elected to Congress, also addressed the Illinois House during a ceremony honoring his service Wednesday.
House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego said everyone should learn from Hastert's ability to set aside political differences to get things done.
Hastert told state lawmakers it was his time in Springfield that honed his negotiating skills.
"This is where I learned how to deal with people," he said.
The governor also appointed DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom to the bipartisan Illinois Works Coalition.