An angry United States Congressman Don Manzullo lashed out at Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich during the question and answer session of his press conference
“I don’t know of any governor who takes money from the Road Fund,” Manzullo said with hand gestures of increasing intensity.
“He ought to be in an automobile to see how bad traffic is in McHenry County, instead of in a helicopter flying around the state,” he continued.
As Brian Slupski, editorial page editor of the Northwest Herald discovered, the Western Bypass has been eliminated from the long-range plan of the Illinois Department of Transportation, even though it has about $20 million of funds earmarked for its construction through Manzullo’s efforts.
Manzullo’s words came after State Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) and State Senator Pam Althoff (R-McHenry) set the stage.
Referring to Blagojevich, the Crystal Laker state representative said,
“He has never stepped foot in McHenry County.”
Continuing, “We can’t ask our congressman to do any more than he) has already done.
Tyron pointed out that Governor Blagojevich “took $800 million from the Road Fund and gave it to education.”
Continuing, he explained that the cost of re-construction of the Dan Ryan Expressway had ballooned “from $400 million to almost one billion.”
“It is costing the suburban areas of Illinois.”
The Western Bypass, which was fully funded at $38 million, now will cost $75 million.
“We simply cannot look the other way anymore,” the Crystal Lake legislator continued, calling for support of the capital funding bill that Illinois House Republicans have proposed.
(This plan would be financed though expansion of gambling in Illinois.)
“We need the governor to keep his word,” Tyron concluded, pointing to the promises made in previous plans issued by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Prior to Tryon’s statement, State Senator Pam Althoff spoke.
She said she was “extremely disappointed with the way the current administration is handing this project.
“Everyone I McHenry County came together to agree this was the number one project,” the McHenry legislator continued. “We had enough to engineer and construct it in 1999.
“As soon as this administration came into office we watched as the money was continually eroded.”
Others speaking after Manzullo’s opening statement and before his harsh criticism of the governor included
- McHenry County Board member Ken Koehler,
- Algonquin Village President John Schmitt,
- Lakewood Village President Julie Richardson,
- Barrington Hills Village President Robert Abboud—Manzullo’s Democratic Party opponent.
Marengo Mayor Don Lockhart attended the press conference as well, as did McHenry County Board members Dan Shea (R-Fox River Grove)and Don Dvorak (R-Crystal Lake), plus Crystal Lake City Councilwoman Ellen Brady-Mueller.
“I probably got into my political career because of this intersection 15 years ago,” McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler said when he took the microphone in support of the Western Bypass’ being funded.
“We have a governor who is unresponsive to the needs of McHenry County,” Koehler added.
Koehler favored the Northern Bypass at in the 1990's.
John Schmitt, now Algonquin Village President, on the other hand opposed the Northern Bypass, which was rejected by the committee put together by the McHenry County Board that recommended the Western Bypass.
“It’s really unusual when you have complete unanimity (on a highway project),” Schmitt explained, adding, “We were told we’d be driving on it in 2007."
Schmitt was a leader of the opposition to the Northern Bypass.
“This is not just a pork project—a bridge to nowhere,” Schmitt pointed out as traffic at a noise level that made it impossible to hear speakers without a microphone swept over the crowd gathered for the press conference.
“This is probably one of the most important projects,” Lakewood’s Julie Richardson asserted.
“We…contribute $22 million (a year in Motor Fuel Taxes),” she echoed a fact that Manzullo had thrown out in his opening statement. “We’re just asking for our fair share.”
“Traffic backs all the way up to Barrington Road,” observed Abboud, in his first joint appearance with Manzullo.
“I’m a little at a loss why the governor and IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation has cut funding),” Abboud said, perhaps signaling a trend among prospective Democratic Party candidates to distance themselves from Blagojevich.
And, there is more on
McHenry County Blog, where you can find the congressman's press release and prepared remarks.
Read more...
So I'm trying to track down what is going to happen about the proposed purchase of the Ridgefield commuter station site that the Northwest Herald says is half owned by McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler.
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