What “stimulus” will Hancock Co. see? Hare, Sullivan talk about the future for Illinois at town meeting

County board president, David Walker, asks a question about Motor Fuel Taxes during the town meeting Saturday with Congressman Phil Hare and State Senator John Sullivan. In the foreground are Marcy DeMint and Jenny Quesenberry of Carthage Veterinary Service, and Dorothy Whitaker.

Illinois can take advantage of the federal economic stimulus plan, but money is tied to getting the state budget in order.

Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.) was in Carthage Saturday for a town meeting, explaining what the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act would bring to Illinois. State Senator John Sullivan joined Hare. Part of Sullivan's message was that state agencies as well as local governments must work to be ready to take advantage of that money.

Illinois could be in line for $2.9 million to pay delayed Medicaid payments and $8 billion for roads, bridges and infrastructure from the federal “economic stimulus.”

“Phil mentioned $8 billion allocated to Illinois for roads and bridges, but we cannot access that without matching those dollars 80/20, and we can't do that without a capital funding bill in Illinois,” Sullivan said.

Similarly, Illinois cannot access the $2.9 billion to make up delays in Medicaid payments until the state has a 30-day payment cycle. Illinois Medicaid payments to healthcare facilities are currently around six months behind.

“What they're doing is forcing us to do what we need to do to get the state budget in line. We cannot leave those dollars out there unused,” Sullivan said.

When faced with the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Hare said he saw three choices: do nothing, lower taxes and see if it would work itself out, or spend an awful lot of money, your money to get people back to work. He supported the latter.

“The latest reports show another 600,000 new unemployed in the last month,” said Hare.

Hare stressed that the money for “shovel ready” projects comes with a 120-day “use it or lose it” stipulation, requiring projects to be started in that time period.

To assure oversight of the spending, Hare said citizens can refer to ill.recovery.gov to see how money is being spent.

Hare defended “earmarks” in the economic stimulus bill and the omnibus spending bill that followed this week.

“Earmarks, in fact, are your money put to projects that make sense for your own area,” Hare said. “When requests come in, I sent every one on. You know what your communities need better than I do,” he told the crowd, that included mayors from Carthage, Hamilton, Nauvoo and LaHarpe.

As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Hare said, “I support a comprehensive plan to rebuild the levee system from Minnesota down. Rebuilding 1,200-foot locks would create 28,000 jobs.” It would speed up river barge traffic by six days if tows did not need to break into sections to go through the smaller locks.

Sullivan described the new climate in Springfield as “totally different than it was, there's dialogue, discussion and transparency. Governor Quinn is living in the mansion in Springfield, and he is inviting people to come over and spend time.”

Sullivan stressed that the federal stimulus bill points out the need for a comprehensive capital bill in Illinois.

“People talk about roads and bridges, and that's important, but as the mayors here know infrastructure on the local level includes sewer, water and education. The needs are great.”

He said Gov. Quinn will present a state budget on March 18, which he hopes can be passed by May 31.

“The state has to have a balanced budget. There's going to be a lot of tough decisions. We have a $9 billion deficit. We are going to have to raise revenue and make cuts in spending. Neither is a good option and we're going to do both.”

County Board President David Walker asked if each man supported an increase in motor fuel taxes, a rate that has not been increased for many years. It is distributed back to cities and counties for road work

“I support it,” Hare said.

“I support it on the federal level,” Sullivan said. “Illinois is one of the few states that has a sales tax on gas. That makes our gas a nickel higher. I don't want it any higher, but I would support directing that sales tax into the motor fuel tax fund for road and bridge repair.”

Marcy DeMint spoke on behalf of Carthage Veterinary Service and Prairieland Investment Group, new owners of the campus in Carthage. She described the work being done at the former college and the potential for new development.

“Some of the buildings need to be demolished. Is there any funding for the demolition of these campus buildings,” DeMint asked. Sullivan suggested there could be resources in a capital funding bill, and Hare suggested talking with his aide for possible sources of funding.

She also asked if either legislator saw a need for any changes to increase regulations for hog production, in light of the adverse conditions producers are facing.

“I want to make it as easy as possible to do business. I don't want to over regulate,” Hare said.

Questions were raised on the cap in trade and carbon emissions.

“Some say it would cause a large increase in electric bills,” said Paul Dion, representing Western Illinois Electric Co-op.

Nauvoo Mayor John McCarty asked about how small communities can access stimulus money for projects. A lump sum of $18 million in Illinois is designated for communities under 5,000 to share. Sullivan said he would check if the regulations on money are part of the federal legislation or are Illinois rulings.