Elgin mayor lends support to state road, bridge construction financing

SPRINGFIELD - In the midst of lobbying lawmakers to help fund needed roadwork in and around Elgin, Mayor Ed Schock said he's willing to back what could be politically risky construction financing because he believes the community will benefit.

"You can't have a capital bill without a source of revenue, and we have assured members of the legislature we have met with that we would be supportive of the revenue enhancements necessary to support a capital bill," Schock told the Daily Herald Thursday during an Elgin lobbying trip to the Capitol that brought dozens of supporters and officials.

"And they need to know that because they'll be sticking their necks out and we want to assure them, at least in our community there would be a voice saying this is the right thing that needed to be done," Schock said, shortly before heading to a meeting with Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, a Chicago Democrat.

Currently, lawmakers have proposed increasing gasoline taxes or income taxes to finance billions worth of road and bridge projects. Gambling expansion has similarly often been touted as a possible funding source, though the economic downturn and a statewide smoking ban have been blamed for significantly reducing the amount of money coming in via legalized riverboat gambling. Elgin is currently the dock site of one of the state's biggest moneymaking casinos.

Lawmakers and then-Gov. George Ryan approved the last construction program of this kind in 1999. But the $12 billion spending spree, which was financed with higher alcohol taxes and vehicle fees, ran dry roughly five years ago.

All of this year's possible financing options are politically controversial. Raising taxes is not a good way to win elections, particularly with the economy spiraling in recession. But at the same time, transportation companies, labor unions and schools across the state are calling for the state to invest billions in construction to put people to work, maintain and expand roads and bridges and build new schools.

Madigan has long said approval of a plan hinges on a responsible funding source and that it will require political "pain" for those willing to support it. Schock's initial voice of support could play well with the influential House speaker.

"If there is a statewide capital program, I'm sure Elgin would benefit like many urban areas," Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said Thursday after the visit.

Schock also met with Gov. Pat Quinn, state transportation officials and Senate leadership during the Capitol excursion, which wasn't limited solely to closed-door meetings with key political figures.

Elgin technology advocates offered a "Tweetup" reception - cash bar - at a Capitol nightclub Wednesday to discuss social networking. On Thursday, Elgin supporters provided food for lawmakers in reusable Elgin bags.

However, the competition for lawmakers' attention was stiff Thursday. Groups had free doughnuts and a flight simulator among their exhibits in the Capitol rotunda. Elgin officials were relegated to a social club a few blocks away.

Schock said he came away with no specific commitments from the state. But he said the point was to insert Elgin into the discussion on how Illinois spends federal stimulus dollars.

"We have projects that are ready to go. That is one of the main criteria for stimulus dollars, that they be ready to go and be completed in a timely manor," Schock said. "So we wanted to let them know about those projects and they are ready to go."

This was the first full-scale "Elgin Day" lobbying effort at the Capitol since 2002. Schock said the budget for the 2009 event was less than $10,000.