SPRINGFIELD - Lawmakers likely will hear hours of testimony Thursday from both sides of a plan to move about 100 state workers from Springfield to southern Illinois.

Some say they're keeping open minds to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan.

But others already have strong opinions on the topic, even before hearing the personal stories and dueling studies likely to dominate the hearing at the Capitol.

State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, for example, called the plan to move Illinois Department of Transportation workers to Harrisburg a "political power play."

"It doesn't make an ounce of sense to me," he said.

Those lawmakers on the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability who have spoken against the move have expressed concern for the Springfield families that could be harmed by a transfer.

State Sen. Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, said the very talk of relocation has upset families.

"State government, first and foremost, should do no harm," Radogno said.

She said the same has happened in Pontiac. A similar hearing about closing the prison there is set for next month.

State Rep. Raymond Poe, R-Springfield, has also spoken against the move, as have other Springfield area lawmakers. He said Blagojevich could save the state money by moving the Springfield workers to a lower cost building in the city.

"And then we can create new jobs in southern Illinois," Poe said.

It's unclear how many members of the 12-lawmaker panel will attend Thursday's meeting at the Capitol. State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, said she can't be there.

Others who are going say they're taking a wait-and-see approach to Thursday's testimony. State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, said he'd give Blagojevich the benefit of the doubt for now.

Syverson said the administration's recent reasoning behind closing Stateville Correctional Center and opening Thomson Correctional Center made sense, even though Blagojevich scrapped that plan.

"They did make a pretty compelling financial and business-model case," Syverson said. "And that's the one they changed their mind on."

State Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and state Rep. Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley, both said they looked forward to learning more Thursday.

"I've got my list of questions," Mautino said.

Commission co-chairman Rich Myers, R-Colchester, said the meeting could be lengthy. The group has 50 days to issue a recommendation either way to Blagojevich.

"There are a lot of questions IDOT needs to answer," Myers said.

Blagojevich has already said he's ready to go forward, no matter what lawmakers say.

"It's a done deal," the governor told a Harrisburg crowd in June.

Myers suggested that lawsuits could be filed if the governor goes against a recommendation from lawmakers.

But Radogno says she wouldn't be surprised if Blagojevich does just that.

"I don't know that he'll be hanging on our every recommendation," she said.