From the Illinois State Senate Democrats
SPRINGFIELD, IL - In response to Governor Pat Quinn’s plan to sign the capital bill, Senate President John J. Cullerton issued the following statement:
“The failure to pass a job-creating capital bill has been a symbol of the toxic dysfunction and mistrust that has prevailed in Springfield for ten years. So in my inaugural speech in January, I pledged to do everything I could to work with the Governor and all legislative leaders to pass a comprehensive capital construction program for Illinois.
On that day the state unemployment rate was 7.8 percent. Legislators of every ideological stripe realized that it was time to get Illinois working again by creating jobs, stabilizing the economy and modernizing our state’s crumbling infrastructure.
I want commend organized labor and the business communities for setting aside their differences to move this plan forward. Democrats and Republicans from both chambers of the General Assembly should also be applauded for working to send this jobs plan to the Governor in May.
Today the state unemployment rate is 10.1 percent. I am pleased to see that Governor Quinn has finally given the green light to get our economy moving and put people back to work. By signing our job-creating statewide construction plan, he is ending the practice of using out-of-work Illinoisans as political leverage while also removing a major roadblock to bipartisan cooperation and trust among political leaders.
Now we can create jobs that are the direct and indirect result of capital investments in local communities. We can provide relief to Illinois’ cities by reducing their need to rely on local revenues to support economic development and infrastructure. We can repair and build our roads, bridges, transit, and school construction projects. Now we can get back to work.”
Showing posts with label capital plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label capital plan. Show all posts
Monday, July 13, 2009
Governor Quinn Signs $31 Billion “Illinois Jobs Now!”
From the Office of Governor Pat Quinn
CHICAGO — Governor Pat Quinn today signed into law bills that create the $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! plan, which will revive the state’s ailing economy by creating and retaining over 439,000 jobs over the next six years. At a bill signing ceremony, Governor Quinn stressed this is the first statewide capital construction effort to become law in over a decade.
"This is a crucial economic recovery initiative that will generate what’s needed most in Illinois: jobs, jobs, jobs," said Governor Quinn. "Illinois Jobs Now! provides many long-awaited improvements to our bridges and roads, transportation networks, schools and communities."
Governor Quinn added that Illinois Jobs Now! will create many new "green" weatherization jobs, protect and improve the state’s fresh water supplies, and advance high-speed rail from Chicago to St. Louis, which will cut down on auto traffic and emissions.
"With Illinois Jobs Now!, our state rises to the challenge of building a viable green economy for the 21st Century that serves our people and strengthens our businesses," said Governor Quinn.
During the signing ceremony at Marshall High School, Governor Quinn expressed appreciation and thanks to the leaders of the General Assembly for their important role in passing Illinois Jobs Now! The Governor also thanked members of the General Assembly, organized labor, business groups and community activists for their support of Illinois Jobs Now!
Governor Quinn stated that passing a major jobs and capital construction plan is a vital component of reviving Illinois’s economy. During his remarks, Governor Quinn again asserted that financing Illinois Jobs Now! program calls for stabilizing Illinois’ entire economy by passing a balanced state budget.
"Illinois Jobs Now! gets people back to work during a time of economic calamity," said Governor Quinn. "But our job does not end with signing these bills into law. The General Assembly must pass a balanced budget that makes essential cuts and cost efficiencies, while also providing for our most vulnerable and needy residents."
CHICAGO — Governor Pat Quinn today signed into law bills that create the $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! plan, which will revive the state’s ailing economy by creating and retaining over 439,000 jobs over the next six years. At a bill signing ceremony, Governor Quinn stressed this is the first statewide capital construction effort to become law in over a decade.
"This is a crucial economic recovery initiative that will generate what’s needed most in Illinois: jobs, jobs, jobs," said Governor Quinn. "Illinois Jobs Now! provides many long-awaited improvements to our bridges and roads, transportation networks, schools and communities."
Governor Quinn added that Illinois Jobs Now! will create many new "green" weatherization jobs, protect and improve the state’s fresh water supplies, and advance high-speed rail from Chicago to St. Louis, which will cut down on auto traffic and emissions.
"With Illinois Jobs Now!, our state rises to the challenge of building a viable green economy for the 21st Century that serves our people and strengthens our businesses," said Governor Quinn.
During the signing ceremony at Marshall High School, Governor Quinn expressed appreciation and thanks to the leaders of the General Assembly for their important role in passing Illinois Jobs Now! The Governor also thanked members of the General Assembly, organized labor, business groups and community activists for their support of Illinois Jobs Now!
Governor Quinn stated that passing a major jobs and capital construction plan is a vital component of reviving Illinois’s economy. During his remarks, Governor Quinn again asserted that financing Illinois Jobs Now! program calls for stabilizing Illinois’ entire economy by passing a balanced state budget.
"Illinois Jobs Now! gets people back to work during a time of economic calamity," said Governor Quinn. "But our job does not end with signing these bills into law. The General Assembly must pass a balanced budget that makes essential cuts and cost efficiencies, while also providing for our most vulnerable and needy residents."
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Statement from Senate President John Cullerton on the Senate Passage of a Capital Jumpstart Plan
From the Office of Senate President John Cullerton
“Today we took a major step forward on the road to recovery for our crumbling infrastructure and economy in Illinois.
The capital jumpstart passed today gives the green light for $3 billion in bonds for roads and transit projects that are desperately needed across the state. We will appropriate $450 million to immediately start working on roads, an additional $150 million for emergency repairs in local communities, and $40 million in neglected commitments from the previous administration.
Starting this May, we will pave the way for a larger capital plan by bringing our current roads up to standard. By repairing existing infrastructure thorugh the current plan, we will be in a better position to expand that infrastructure with new projects in the comprehensive plan that we will pass later in the session.
The last few years of capital plan development have been filled with false starts. This capital jumpstart signals that it is truly a new day in Illinois. We have recognized that it’s time to move beyond the partisan rhetoric that fueled failure in the past, and move forward with bipartisan cooperation for a better future.
Instead of injecting politics into the road repair process we will to rely on the expert advice of IDOT engineers. Unlike capital improvement proposals of the past, this plan puts the most critical needs for road and transit improvements first.
We still have a long road ahead of us are we develop and pass larger capital package. But I want to commend my fellow senators and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno for laboring with me in this bipartisan effort to stimulate the economy and support jobs now.
“Today we took a major step forward on the road to recovery for our crumbling infrastructure and economy in Illinois.
The capital jumpstart passed today gives the green light for $3 billion in bonds for roads and transit projects that are desperately needed across the state. We will appropriate $450 million to immediately start working on roads, an additional $150 million for emergency repairs in local communities, and $40 million in neglected commitments from the previous administration.
Starting this May, we will pave the way for a larger capital plan by bringing our current roads up to standard. By repairing existing infrastructure thorugh the current plan, we will be in a better position to expand that infrastructure with new projects in the comprehensive plan that we will pass later in the session.
The last few years of capital plan development have been filled with false starts. This capital jumpstart signals that it is truly a new day in Illinois. We have recognized that it’s time to move beyond the partisan rhetoric that fueled failure in the past, and move forward with bipartisan cooperation for a better future.
Instead of injecting politics into the road repair process we will to rely on the expert advice of IDOT engineers. Unlike capital improvement proposals of the past, this plan puts the most critical needs for road and transit improvements first.
We still have a long road ahead of us are we develop and pass larger capital package. But I want to commend my fellow senators and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno for laboring with me in this bipartisan effort to stimulate the economy and support jobs now.
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