Blago Brokers Over Bridges

By Kevin Robinson in News on Jul 30, 2008 7:00PM

Governor Rod Blagojevich is using a new report that a quarter of bridges nationwide need expensive structural work to make the case for a capital construction budget in Illinois. “It is the first duty of government to provide for the public safety of its citizens,” said Blagojevich. “We’re going to make sure that the bridges they ride on, the bridges they drive on, the roads they travel on, will be safe.” He says he'd like to meet with legislators this week to hammer out a deal on the spending bill, and he wants House Speaker Mike Madigan to be present. "We'd like him to participate, and we sure would like to have him there. And I'd be happy to cut his apples for him and get him a cup of coffee," Blago told Chicago Public Radio. He then blamed Madigan for budget cuts and accused him of scheming to raise taxes.

Madigan and other legislative leaders are skeptical, however. They worry that Blagojevich won't spend the money fairly, and they're concerned that he wants to expand gambling in the state and lease the lottery to pay for the bridge work.

Photo by chaseism