Opinion

State should OK proton centers

Posted September 08, 2008 11:00 pm

The DuPage County Building and Construction Trades Council is calling for the state to approve the two proposed proton cancer treatment centers In Illinois.

At a time when the state legislators cannot function as a unit and the future of capital programs remains in doubt it is important for our state's leaders to stop putting up roadblocks for private development that will provide much needed construction jobs.

In recent years the building of new hospitals and health care facilities has provided much needed work for thousands of construction workers in the Chicagoland area and among these projects are two high tech cancer treatment centers proposed for DuPage County. The Central DuPage Hospital proton project will support about 400 construction jobs over a two year building phase and then provide about 100 full time jobs for skilled health care workers and, if that is not enough, the center will help treat thousands of patients struggling with cancer.

Everyone is aware that a bad economy means a tighter job market and the state should not be standing in the way of 400 construction jobs at this proposed center. The other proton facility is being built by Northern Illinois University and is a research and treatment center.

Ken Lambert

Financial Secretary/Treasurer

DuPage County Building and Construction Trades Council

Warrenville

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