Mini Illinois construction program in the works

SPRINGFIELD - As unemployment soars, the Illinois General Assembly on Thursday approved a $9 billion public works program meant to create thousands of new jobs quickly.

The program approved by both chambers would be just a taste of what's to come in a much larger construction plan that officials are working on. But even the smaller version would support 80,000 jobs, supporters say.

"It is certainly the shot in the arm that our state needs to get us out of the hole that we've been in," said Sen. Donne Trotter, a Chicago Democrat, who sponsored the bill.

House Republicans questioned the wisdom of diverting scarce tax dollars to pay for the construction plan but ultimately voted in unison with Democrats to give it overwhelming approval.

Lawmakers have spent years trying to pass a massive public works program that would create hundreds of thousands of jobs while fixing crumbling roads, bridges and schools. But political feuds and mistrust of then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich blocked progress.

Now that Pat Quinn has replaced Blagojevich and the need for a jobs program has deepened, officials hope they'll finally be able to pass a sweeping, $25 billion capital plan later this spring. But it won't be simple because of concerns about raising taxes and fees to pay for the construction.

In the meantime, a smaller plan would let the state get cracking on filling potholes and repairing mass-transit systems.

The program could put shovels into workers' hands by May, Trotter said.

It would cost $9 billion - $3 billion from state funds and the rest from the federal government. The state would raise its share by borrowing money and repaying it with money from the state road fund.

Transit systems, both in the Chicago area and downstate, would receive $1 billion worth of construction work.

The state would spend $450 million to jump-start projects already planned by the Illinois Department of Transportation. An additional $150 million would go to repairing potholes.

It also includes $364,000 to open 16 shuttered historic sites and money to speed up the payment for state services such as health care for the poor.

The measure now awaits action from the governor.