Blago touts jobs bill, shifts responsibility for WIU funding into Republican's laps.
Reader submitted photo Governor Blagojevich stopped in Moline earlier today and reiterated his priority to pass his jobs bill to build roads and schools, and remembered to add that the WIU campus project was "a huge priority right now".
Since he's pretty much cast the fate of the funding to the wind, in other words making it dependent on Republican support to get it into a budget bill, he shrewdly took the opportunity to shift responsibility away from himself and local legislators and onto the opposition party, "If you know a republican legislator, ask him or her to stop playing partisan poltics," Gov. Blagojevich said. "Let's put the campus ahead of politics and partisanship, and let's create jobs for people."
A massive lobbying squad from the area is set to invade Springfield Wednesday in order to execute a scorched earth lobby effort in support of funding for the WIU project. It could be a make or break effort.
On the Thomson prison mini-opening, WQAD reports that the common sense people of that town aren't going to fall for the hype anymore.
Around Thomson, people say they want prisoners, not promises, after waiting four years for a new but never used prison to open.
So hope was tempered with skepticism last week when Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vitch) unveiled plans for a scaled-down opening of the 18-hundred-bed facility. It was finished in 2001 but never opened because of state budget woes.
The governor's plan would hire 75 guards and bring in 200 inmates by fall.
Townspeople say their hopes have been raised and dashed before. They say businesses that opened to serve the expected rush of prison visitors are hurting most.
State Representative Mike Boland says he understands the frustration after striking out with several prison-opening ideas of his own.
But the East Moline Democrat says the latest plan will click, thanks to support from House Speaker Michael Madigan.
posted by The Inside Dope @ 2/20/2006
9 comments
9 Comments:
Glad to see the Governor putting the ball into the Republican's court on the WIU-QC issue. After all, they've been silent and without solutions on that issue.
It's unfair to put it all on the shoulders of Gianulis-Bohnsack-Boland-Verschoore-Jacobs-Quinn-Blagojevich!
I agree with the Gov. We will get a chance to see how Senator Todd Sieben reacts for a part of his community which would prosper,or will he play partisan politics as usual.
OK, I'm cynical.
First Blago leads young Jacobs around by the nose, blowing smoke up his skirt by assuring him the WIU thing is a big priority... don't sweat it, it's a done deal.
Jacobs falls for it, then realizes too late that it's a bunch of hot air. So he starts to loudly proclaim the project, always being sure to mention the Governor's professed support in an effort to hold Blago's feet to the fire.
Every time Jacobs popped up and spouted off as if the deal was done, the press would contact someone with the Gov's office who would promptly throw a bucket of cold water on the idea.
Then Jacobs would persist in saying it was nearly done and the Gov supports it, etc.
Well, finally the Gov, who obviously didn't support it TOO damn much, decides the best way to deal with Jacobs is to soft pedal, or more correctly no-pedal the WIU funds in his budget address and to include it nowhere at all in all the publicity surrounding his address.
Aid for film makers were featured prominently, WIU, nowhere to be seen.
So now, Blago comes to town and says it's now those darn Republicans which are now responsible for whether the funds get approved.
Yes, that's true, but the fact is that wouldn't be the case had Blago put a higher priority on the funding.
Jacobs and the other legislators failed to get the funding to be a priority for the Gov, and now it's chances are very slim.
So while true, it seems a bit disingenous for Blago and the three amigos to now say it's all up to the Republicans.
Yes, the Republicans should, and really should be pressed hard to do the right thing for the area and approve these funds, but what no one is talking about these days is that it never had to be this way.
But was he drinking a Pina Colada at Trader Vic's???
Patty Blagoejvich is thinking "Man how can I get my hair to look that good? What's his secret??".
Inside Dope:
I agree, these projects and a lot of them in downstate need to be approved, but where is the BEEF? Where is the revenue to pay off this debt that if approved will amount to a whopping 24 billion dollars? I think the only way this thing passes is for both democrats and republicans to sit down at the table and explain to us who will pay the bill, just how much it will cost and who will pay for it. I think most people favor doing projects like this but a few straight answers would be helpful. Plus, once it is approved how do we know Blago is going to follow through with what he has promised? You know he has a credibility problem and the truth often evades him.
Of course, I was referring to "Werewolves of London" by the late, truly great Warren Zevon.
"I saw a werewolf drinking a Pina Colada at Trader Vic's... and his hair was PERFECT!"
Anon 19:37.
Well said.
It makes sense to me. Should I be worried? ha!
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