Hastert pushes massive state public works program
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert advised suburban business leaders Thursday to take the lead in lobbying for a capital construction project to mend and improve the state's infrastructure.
"If every one of you collars your elected representative, they're going to get the message," said Hastert, adding that as a congressman he always paid more attention to direct appeals from constituents than to letter-writing campaigns.
Later Thursday, Hastert and Glenn Poshard emerged from a Springfield meeting with Gov. Rod Blagojevich and legislative leaders that confirmed this: The desire for a capital project is there; the means of payment is not.
Hastert, a Republican, and Poshard, a former Democratic gubernatorial candidate, have been traveling the state at the governor's behest, seeking consensus on a proposed $25 billion program dubbed Illinois Works.
Both reported to state leaders Thursday that Illinoisans back a project, although neither has signed off on specifics of the governor's plan. Blagojevich and legislative leaders have failed to break an impasse over funding. A proposal late last year to expand gambling as a revenue source seemed to be gathering momentum but eventually collapsed. Blagojevich has pledged to veto any income-tax increase.
Currently, lawmakers have yet to determine how to plug a nearly $750 million hole in this year's budget, let alone move on to balancing the next budget due before July 1.
In his remarks to business leaders Thursday morning, Hastert joked that his first response to Blagojevich's call was, "What's he doing calling me?" But he quickly affirmed his support for a sweeping program, noting that 11 years have passed since the state last launched a capital construction initiative.
Hastert, who resigned his congressional seat in November, said rail infrastructure built in the 1800s badly needs upgrading. He spoke, too, of the need to resurface pockmarked highways, build western access to O'Hare International Airport and expand commuter rail service for rapidly growing suburban communities.
He said his job in this process is to bring people to the table; legislators and the governor will need to determine how to pay. If the state doesn't act, however, Hastert said $9.3 billion in federal matching funds could be lost.
"Illinois taxpayers have already paid for this (federal money) at the gas pump," he said.
Hastert delivered his remarks to about 150 members of the Northern Illinois Business Advisory Coalition, joined in sponsorship by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
The coalition is an advocacy group for local chambers, including Arlington Heights, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Hoffman Estates, Lake Zurich, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Wheeling/Prospect Heights, the Schaumburg Business Association and the Great O'Hare Association.