FRANKLIN COUNTY - Citing it as an "occupational hazard," Gov. Rod Blagojevich dismissed criticism of his plan to move the Illinois Department of Transportation's Division of Traffic Safety from Springfield to Southern Illinois.

In Southern Illinois Thursday for a ceremony to dedicate a portion of Interstate 57 to retired Congressman Ken Gray, Blagojevich took a few minutes to talk about the planned relocation that will see 148 workers either pack their bags for a move to Southern Illinois or find other employment.

"It's a decision I could make by myself as a governor and I've made a decision to move some IDOT operations out of Springfield, where it's been for more than 100 years, to bring that IDOT facility and the jobs that go along with it to Southern Illinois as a way to do a couple of things," Blagojevich said. "First and foremost, it will balance the representation of the IDOT throughout Southern Illinois and give Southern Illinois a presence. The better part of it is the opportunity to create 150 jobs in Southern Illinois that otherwise didn't exist."

Blagojevich said he understands the heat he is feeling from Springfield officials since he announced the move.

"I respect their position, but as governor, my job is to provide opportunities across the state. Southern Illinois is a part of our state that for way too long has been (treated) sort of like a forgotten stepchild by state government," he said.

He said he "pretty much knows where" the new facility will be located and expects to be able to make a formal announcement long before July 4.

"This is a decision I made and I'll tell you this: It was my idea. I can't wait to make the announcement and we're going to do it where it's (the facility) going to be," he said as he pulled State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, to his side. "This couldn't have happened without Gary Forby."

Speculation that the relocation was politically motivated, perhaps in part as a sort of "payback" to Forby for not casting a vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow for recall of public officials, is untrue, Blagojevich said. Forby said previously he was not available for the vote because his wife was having surgery.

"You're always going to have critics and criticism and your motivations questioned. At the end of the day I know where my heart is and I know this is the right thing to do and I'll let all the critics be critics," Blagojevich said. "All I know is there will be 150 new jobs and I'm really excited about it."

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