Article Options

Blagojevich: State needs capital bill for Chicago to land 2016 Olympics

BY KURT ERICKSON, The Southern Springfield Bureau

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 3:45 PM CDT

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich Wednesday tied the push for a statewide construction program to Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic games.

In a statement issued Wednesday after the International Olympic Committee selected Chicago as a finalist for the Olympics, Blagojevich pledged to work to get a construction plan approved.

''I will do everything I can as governor to pass a public works program that would enable us to invest in transit, roads, bridges and other infrastructure that will boost Chicago's efforts to deliver the crown jewel of international sporting events to Illinois,'' Blagojevich said.

His comments came four days after the Illinois House blocked a $34 billion construction program that would have resulted in new roads, bridges and schools around the state.

Opponents such as state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, voted against the plan because it relied on a massive expansion of gambling as its funding source. Supporters, such as state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, said adding new casinos in the Chicago area is a better way to finance the program than making all Illinoisans pay higher income taxes.

In Chicago, the construction plan would have financed improvements to aging public transit systems, which could help shuttle Olympics fans to various sporting events.

In addition to using the games as a reason to push for a construction program, the state earlier agreed to commit $150 million as a safety net in the event the games lose money.

That agreement noted that the state money would only be used if the games run a deficit of more than $975 million. Money would

A final decision on which city will host the 2016 games won't come until 2009.