Obama presidency could have benefits for Illinois

"You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" could be the unofficial motto in Illinois, a state with a rich history of political quid pro quo.

So now that Illinois has sent one of its own -- President-elect Barack Obama -- to the White House, the natural question in his home state is: "What's in it for us?"

That depends.

History shows the federal government won't open the money spigot and flood the state with cash. But an Obama administration will mean access in Washington and powerful jobs for people with local ties who might be sympathetic to lobbying on issues dear to Illinoisans.

At least one Illinois congressman is hoping an Obama White House means reviving plans for a downstate clean coal plant that the Bush administration stopped supporting. And Obama's Senate colleague, Sen. Dick Durbin, says he'll be talking with his friend about Illinois projects once some bigger matters are resolved.

"There are a whole lot of people with direct or indirect contact with the campaign and there is a certain level of anticipation that doors will open or that jobs will be offered or that grants will be awarded. Whether the reality meets the expectation? Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't," said Reggie Bashur, a Republican political consultant in Texas who worked for President George W. Bush when he was governor.

Tom Schatz, president of the watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste, said earmarks in Texas -- what he called pork per capita -- "really didn't change all that much" during Bush's eight years in the White House.

But Schatz also said Illinois lawmakers in Washington will have a leg up in arguing for particular earmarks, the special spending on pet projects that politicians like to bring home for their constituents.

"They essentially have a stronger position than they would otherwise," he said.

For his part, Rep. Peter Roskam is hoping an Obama administration means new life for the federal FutureGen clean-coal project in Mattoon, put on hold after the Bush administration complained that costs for the project had soared to $1.8 billion last year.

Obama talked about clean coal initiatives during his campaign.

"Hopefully FutureGen is back on the table," said Roskam, a second-term Republican from Chicago's suburbs.

Roskam is also counting on an Obama presidency to send more money to the state for infrastructure needs like roads and bridges.

Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said the pressures of an economic crisis may mean Illinois will see few immediate benefits from having Obama in the White House.

"But once we get this economy moving again, we can start talking about Illinois-specific projects," Durbin said. "I have a few in mind."

Some high-profile Illinoisans already are sure to have Obama's ear in Washington.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, a Chicago Democrat, will be Obama's chief of staff. Obama's longtime friend and supporter Valerie Jarrett will be his White House senior adviser. Others with local ties are likely to follow Obama to Washington, including senior adviser David Axelrod, who helped run Obama's successful campaign.

It's typical for presidents to pack their staff with people they know. The Bush administration was filled with Texans, including former presidential aide Karen Hughes, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

"You'll see a big talent drain," said Hughes, a Bush confidante who followed him from Texas.

While Illinoisans shouldn't get their hopes up about federal largesse, they can count on an uptick in tourist interest, said John DiPippa, interim dean at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen Law School, the state where President Clinton was governor before going to the White House.

"In the way that Little Rock became interesting, Chicago will become cooler to a lot of people," DiPippa said.

That kind of attention couldn't come at a better time for Chicago, home to the Obamas and one of four finalists for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Obama has been a high-profile supporter of the city's bid, which includes building an Olympic stadium in a park just a few blocks from Obama's South Side home. The International Olympic Committee will announce its host choice next October.

The benefits can continue for a state after its president leaves office. DiPippa said the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum has helped attract private development money to Little Rock because the library is an anchor.

"It has revitalized downtown Little Rock," he said.