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For Immediate Release:
May 8, 2008 |
For Information:
Rep. Ruth Munson
847-622-1048
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Munson, Schmitz Push for Jobs and Infrastructure Funding
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Springfield…Lawmakers from Kane County are increasing the pressure in Springfield for passage this spring of a comprehensive jobs and capital improvement plan. State Representatives Ruth Munson (R-Elgin) and Tim Schmitz (R-Batavia) this week introduced a resolution calling for prompt passage of a long-overdue capital plan to improve roads, bridges, schools and local mass transit systems.
“This is a serious safety issue. It has been more than six years since we last had a capital plan in place and our infrastructure is literally crumbling. We are on track to reach a new record high 3,450 bad miles of road in just a few years, and we have 2,450 bridges that have been rated ‘structurally deficient’. We need a capital plan in place, and we need it now,” said Munson.
“As our communities have continued to grow, the strain on our roads and schools has reached the critical stage. Local municipalities can’t keep up without help. We must have a statewide plan in place in order to access more than $9.3 billion in federal transportation dollars that our congressional delegation brought home to Illinois,” Schmitz said. “This week we filed a resolution that not only calls for prompt action, but also lays out critical protections that must be included in a comprehensive capital plan to make sure the funding actually goes where it’s intended
House Resolution 1278 calls for passage this spring of a statewide capital jobs and infrastructure plan, including:
- At least $3 billion each year over the next five years for road and bridge construction and maintenance. The funding would be deposited directly into a Capital Infrastructure Fund, and could not be diverted for any other purpose.
- At least $2 billion each year over the next three years for construction and maintenance of public transportation systems. A new Public Transportation Construction Fund will be created to ensure this funding is allocated as intended.
- At least $500 million each year over the next three years for school construction grants, that, when combined with the 50% local match, will make available $3 billion to repair, replace and upgrade local school, community college or university buildings.
“There are 23 school districts still waiting for school construction grants the state promised to them in 2002. That’s unconscionable,” Schmitz said. “Our schools need help and beleaguered property taxpayers can’t continue to bear the burden alone.”
Rep. Munson noted that the resolution also calls for increased accountability to local taxpayers regarding how their transportation tax dollars are collected and spent.
“No more road fund diversions,” Munson said. “Under our resolution, state motor fuel tax dollars and license fees that go into the road fund will stay in the road fund to pay for road repairs. We are also calling for an annual audit of the Road, Highway Construction, and Public Transportation Funds to make sure precious infrastructure dollars are being spent appropriately.”
Representatives Munson and Schmitz said they will push for prompt passage of their resolution when House members return to Springfield on Tuesday, May 13th.
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