January 15, 2008

Dear Editor:

Chicago’s political power was once again on display last week, as the Democrat-controlled House and Senate passed legislation to bail out Chicago’s mass transit system. While downstate families struggle with rising gasoline prices and mounting electric bills, our Chicago neighbors will not face a single fare hike or service cut under the bail-out plan sent to the Governor.

While I expect legislators from the Chicago area to defend their constituents’ interests, it was disturbing to see most downstate Democrats voting right along with their Chicago colleagues, putting Chicago’s interest above our own. Most Democrat legislators representing central and southern Illinois voted for not one but three separate CTA/RTA bail-out plans last week. All of which leave fewer state dollars available for our local needs.

One of the bail-out plans left a $400 million hole in the state budget with no way to fill it, and yet, almost every downstate Democrat in the House voted for it. The other two bills create a $100 million annual burden on the state budget. That’s a $100 million less that we will have to fund our schools, health care, and to pay our bills.

Let’s not forget these are the same downstate Democrats who have said for months that they would not support a CTA bail-out without a statewide capital plan to address our infrastructure needs. In the end they voted with their Chicago colleagues to bail out the City while getting nothing in return for our region.

I voted ‘NO’ on all three Chicago bail-out plans and will continue to demand passage of a statewide capital plan to create jobs and improve our local roads, bridges and schools.

I am urging constituents to contact my office at 618-651-0405, or visit my website www.repstephens.com to sign my Jobs for Illinois petition. Once signatures are collected, I will send the petitions urging a downstate capital program to the Governor and the four legislative leaders. Thank you for helping to protect our downstate interests.

Sincerely,

Ron Stephens

State Representative

102^nd District