Amendment will help protect infrastructure

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, before casting a vote for president of the United States, Illinois voters will be asked to decide an important issue that can help repair and fortify decaying roads and bridges across the state, put more people to work, and improve the quality of life for all citizens in Illinois.

The Safe Roads Amendment will prevent lawmakers from using transportation dollars for other purposes, guaranteeing that money will be spent on what it was meant for - improving our transportation infrastructure and making our roadways safer.

With about half of Illinois' roads and 4,200 bridges in poor condition, our public transportation systems need modernizing and repair. Not surprisingly, outdated infrastructure is tremendously expensive to fix and maintain.

Making matters worse, transportation funding in Illinois often runs dry. During the past 10 years, the state's financial woes have resulted in lawmakers raiding $6 billion worth of transportation revenue.

One of Illinois' greatest assets is its transportation infrastructure. By making the necessary investments, our transportation infrastructure combined with the work ethic of our people should make Illinois impossible to compete with. Investments in transportation infrastructure strengthen our economy and create jobs, ultimately generating more revenue for education and other critical services needed for our children, the elderly, and the most vulnerable in society. It is not a zero-sum game as some critics suggest.

The Safe Roads Amendment will fortify our roads and bridges, protect transportation dollars, hold the government accountable, boost our economy and put Illinoisans back to work. Let's not risk this opportunity to make a difference and ensure our voices heard on November 8. Vote "Yes" for the Safe Roads Amendment.

Marty Ozinga

Mokena