How do you ask for money when you didn’t spend what you got last time?

Add comment August 12th, 2008

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is frustrated with Illinois politics.

The Illinois Democrat was in town Monday to pitch his Small Business Health Options Program. He dropped by to visit with a few members of the Editorial Board.

Durbin worked diligently a few years ago to get Illinois more money for its roads than has ever come to the state in the federal transportation bill.

How did Illinois’ lawmakers thank Durbin? By doing what they do best: nothing.

Three years ago the Illinois Congressional Delegation, with Dennis Hastert as Speaker of the House and Durbin in a leadership role in the Senate, secured $6.2 billion over five years — a 30 percent increase over the 1998 transportation bill.

But to get that money, the state needed a capital plan to match its dollars with the federal money.

Illinois has not approved a capital plan since 1999. The state is losing whatever advantage it gained with the extra money because costs have risen sharply during the lost years.

Although Illinois probably will get its money eventually, Durbin’s dilemma comes with the transportation bill that comes up next year. He’s unlikely to get much support from his colleagues in the Senate who can rightfully say “Why should we give you more money? You didn’t spend what we gave you last time?”

Durbin said Illinois needs a capital plan, although he’s not a fan of expanding gambling to finance it. He thinks it’s an “irresponsible way to finance government” because poor people and the elderly are most likely to be gambling’s targets.

We agree, but there are no other options being discussed as lawmakers return to Springfield for a special session.

Durbin also is disappointed with the petty personal politics that has led to gridlock in Illinois.

The big dispute, of course, is between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Speaker of the House Mike Madigan. Durbin said the feud has gone beyond policy differences and is mired in “deep personal feelings” of animosity between the governor and the speaker.

Durbin also mentioned that Blagojevich has called him perhaps 10 times in the six years he’s been governor. You would think the governor would call someone of the senator’s experience, expertise and clout more often than that, especially considering the problems the state faces.