Capital bill needed to boost economy

On behalf of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, I recently stood alongside former House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former Congressmen Glenn Poshard, two of our state's most recognized elder statesmen, to join Gov. Blagojevich in calling for a statewide capital bill.

This must be a priority this year; a capital bill is exactly what our state needs to stimulate our economy, support small businesses and spur job creation. In his State of the State address earlier this year, the governor's budget included $25 billion for capital investments.

Illinois has gone without an infrastructure bill for nine long years. And while many other states invest in their roads, bridges, schools, airports and other critical project to jumpstart economic development, I worry that Illinois is falling behind.

Crumbling roads and overcrowded schools hurt our state's competitiveness in the global marketplace. It is also significant to note that Illinois' economy was slow to recover from the recession earlier this decade, but by acting on a capital bill now, our elected officials can give our state a boost as our nation lies on the brink of an economic downturn.

The governor, legislative leaders and rank and file members of the General Assembly must work together, find an agreeable solution and make this legislation a priority.

Illinois must build on its rich history of investing in infrastructure to support commerce and business activity, providing good jobs for hundreds of thousands of people and spurring long-term economic growth.

Jerry Roper

President and CEO

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce