Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Despite narrow win last year, Rodney Davis continues going all-in for the president
Next Post: Nothing is ever easy, but persistence pays off for @ChicagoBars (and everyone)
Posted in:
* The governor’s office told me today that 40 percent of IDOT’s six-year $23.5 billion roads and bridges plan will be spent in District 1, which includes Chicago, suburban Cook and DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.
That means 60 percent goes to what’s traditionally known as “Downstate,” which has less than 35 percent of the state’s population but a whole lot of its roads and bridges.
According to the governor’s office, District 1-Downstate split in Pat Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now was 43-57.
Back in the day, there was a handshake agreement to split the IDOT spending 45-55 between District 1 and Downstate every year…
Experts we spoke with confirmed the historic 55/45 funding split Pritzker’s office used to defend his claim, noting it’s been common practice for decades even though it isn’t prescribed by state law.
It “has always been kind of a gentleman’s agreement more than any hard-and-fast rule,” according to Jeremy Glover, a transportation expert at the Metropolitan Planning Council in Chicago.
So, Downstate will do much better in the future than it has in the past, including slightly better than the very recent past…
Our analysis of last year’s IDOT report bears out that trend. Estimated funds for projects in Cook County and its five collars comprised 41% of the department’s allocations for state roads and bridges over the six-year period.
* This 40-60 split could help the governor and others counter arguments like this one from the leader of the Eastern Bloc…
Illinois state Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) says taxpayers should feel a certain sense of discomfort every time they fill up their vehicles’ gas tanks.
“Every time you fill up your tank straight to the corruption, waste and power of the Chicago Democrats,” Halbrook recently posted on Facebook amid reports that motorists in Illinois paid $100 million more at the pumps than last year during the first month of the state’s new motor-fuel tax.
Halbrook lives in IDOT District 7, which includes these (mostly) smallish counties…
Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Lawrence, Macon, Moultrie, Richland, Shelby, Wabash, Wayne
And yet District 7 is slated to receive about 19.5 percent of what the massive District 1 will get ($1.29 billion vs. $6.63 billion) over six years.
* The Question: Can you craft Rep. Halbrook’s response to these numbers?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:09 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Despite narrow win last year, Rodney Davis continues going all-in for the president
Next Post: Nothing is ever easy, but persistence pays off for @ChicagoBars (and everyone)
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Good. Downstate roads are in horrible condition from what my downstate friends say.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:12 pm
“I don’t see what the big deal is, frankly.”
Comment by phenom_Anon Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:12 pm
Get over it(banned punctuation)
Comment by L.A. Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:13 pm
- phenom_Anon -
Well done, that’s where I was going, lol
“I’ll get back to the Governor when I hear what the 51st state is offering now”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:15 pm
Beware of governors bearing gifts.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:15 pm
Yet again the Democrats in Cook County get their 8 lane roads while the good folks in Jasper county have to settle for less, we just keep paying for others.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:16 pm
“Pritzker claims his gas tax is reeling in a big haul for downstate Illinois. I’ve heard a lot of fish stories in my time, but that’s a bunch of crappie.” - Brad Halbrook
Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:17 pm
Who cares how Illinois funds its roads? In New Illinois we will use Coles Cash.
Comment by Not Again Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:18 pm
“Look, this is an utter disgrace. Over 90 counties voted against the Democrat governor, that’s 90 counties, and we get 60% of the money? That’s not fair. The money should not be distributed by how counties vote, and we are being unfairly treated. Where is our 90%”
- Mr. Halbrook, maybe.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:22 pm
If we had our own 51st state, 100% of our tax dollars would stay right here, and we wouldn’t have to send 40% up to those crooked Democrats in Chicago.
Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:27 pm
Brad Halbrook: “Where did we put those ribbon cutting scissors?”
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:28 pm
Figures don’t lie but liars figure
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:32 pm
This isn’t his response but an actual question. Is mass transit funding included in these percentages? If not I can see him saying his district doesn’t get diddly from that pool of money.
Comment by Been There Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:33 pm
===If not I can see him saying his district doesn’t get diddly from that pool of money. ===
Then he should propose a mass transit project.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:36 pm
Thomas Paine, is there crappie in the rivers here? Because all I see are large mouth basses (remove the b to make the joke count here).
Comment by SpfdNewb Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:41 pm
On the question,
How dare Chicago get 40% of the funding, it only has ~75% of the state’s population.
Comment by SpfdNewb Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:47 pm
“Yeah, Yeah, But but …. look a squirrel.”
Comment by don the legend Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:52 pm
“Many of my constituents are enthusiastic supporters of 3/5 compromises.”
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:53 pm
Chicago has most of the population but downstate grows the food they eat. Chicago likes to eat.
Comment by Crispy Critter Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:56 pm
===Then he should propose a mass transit project.===
I’m not saying that is a good response because I don’t have a problem with mass transit funding. But I can see him using my quote.
Comment by Been There Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 4:05 pm
“Facts are meaningless.You can use facts to prove anything that’s even remotely true.Facts schmacts.”
~ Homer J. Simpson
Comment by anon2 Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 4:14 pm
It’s about time they take into account our having 16 counties to their four (Cook, Will, DuPage, & Lake)
Comment by Jocko Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 4:21 pm
Wicked burn, Moe.
Comment by Jibba Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 4:59 pm
“Leave it to the liberal swamp dwellers to use facts and figures to make their point. I, myself, prefer to stick to my opinions.”
Comment by Ill Annoyed Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 5:03 pm
The money goes to highways that serve Chicago. The roads we use.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 5:35 pm
All these construction projects all end up leading to one place Chicago. Yep that’s right you Google map from anywhere in my district any route you take from roads in Shelbyville or Robinson they take you to Chicago eventually. It is despicable! As your representative I can’t support that.
Comment by Almost the weekend Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 6:13 pm
Moe Berg @ 3:53 wins — that is good stuff
Comment by Flapdoodle Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 6:23 pm
“If there is one thing I resent is being Poindextered, by tax cheating tax hikers who seek to desecrate and destroy our God given reduce speed reminders by hiring socialist to bury them. Outrage, I am outraged. Washington and Lincoln are rolling over in their graves. We must resist tyranny. Don’t tread on me DOT.”
Comment by Al Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 6:29 pm
It could use a few more 4 lanes or even passing lanes downstate. Thompson understood high profile with 39. He ran it in all his Dow estate ads.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 6:33 pm
Can you craft Rep. Halbrook’s response to these numbers?
“Sixty percent? Outrageous‼ Downstate deserves at least half‼”
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 6:53 pm
Rep. Halbrook: “Everyone in District 1 is either uber wealthy & can afford to pay tolls, or is uninsured and shouldn’t have roads!”
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 7:44 pm
“The residents of my district have more acres of land than those She-caw-go folks, so we deserve more transportation funding.” Rep. Brad Holbrooke, R-Eastern Bloc
“But, Sir, you have far less population than the Chicagoland area”, said the reporter.
Holbrooke responded: “We have more land (banned punctuation). We need more votes (banned punctuation). Must we now discuss how She-caw-go steals our votes, in addition to our transportation funds?”
Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Oct 22, 19 @ 1:17 am
“Once again, a clear cut case of the liberal media trying to confuse me with the facts”
Comment by efudd Tuesday, Oct 22, 19 @ 8:08 am