A weekly update on issues from Illinois State Senator Gary Forby

When the General Assembly sends bills to the governor, he has 60 days to sign or veto them before they automatically become law. In the past week, the 60-day deadline arrived for most of the legislation we passed last spring. I now know the fate of most of the bills that I sponsored, and I want to give you an update on some of our state’s new laws.

SPRINGFIELD, IL — State Sen. John Sullivan (D – Rushville) and state Rep. Rich Myers (R – Macomb) announced today that legislation supporting economic redevelopment efforts in downtown Macomb was signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn.

Springfield, Illinois - State Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) commended the Governor’s decision to sign the capital bill into law.

"This legislation includes not only bridge and road projects, but also dollars for public transit, education, community development and environmental projects," said Munoz. "Illinois has not had a capital bill in over ten years and these funds will allow us to make the infrastructure improvements that are necessary to improve our economy and put people back to work."

SPRINGFIELD, IL –State Sen. John Sullivan (D-Rushville) announced this week that the state’s first comprehensive capital construction plan in a decade has been signed into law. The roughly $30 billion spending plan will put thousands of people back to work and pour billions of dollars into repairing Illinois’ aging schools, roads, bridges, water and sewer systems and more.

AURORA, IL— State Sen. Linda Holmes (D – Aurora) applauded Governor Pat Quinn’s decision to move forward with a $31 billion capital works program this week.

“Since I started running for office, passing a substantial capital bill has been my top priority,” Holmes said. “Our current economic downturn has only increased the necessity for this type of program. I am pleased that the governor is signing this measure that will put our residents back to work.”

Chicago, Illinois – Senator Martin A. Sandoval Chairman of the Illinois Senate Transportation Committee, along with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley; Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno; Republican House Leader Tom Cross; organized labor leaders, business groups and community activists witnessed the long-awaited capital bill signed by Governor Pat Quinn in Chicago.

CHAMPAIGN, IL –State Senator Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign) praised Governor Pat Quinn’s decision to sign a $31 billion capital works program into law this afternoon.

“I am thankful that the governor has decided to move forward with the capital bill at this time,” Frerichs said. “This program will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs for our residents and jumpstart our local economy. Our state’s infrastructure has been neglected for a long time and I am glad that we are reinvesting in our state and its people.”

Springfield, IL— State Senators Toi Hutchinson (D – Olympia Fields) attended a signing ceremony today at which Governor Quinn signed the $30 billion comprehensive capital plan, bringing thousands of jobs to Illinois and fixing crumbling infrastructure across the state.

“This capital plan was one of our top priorities this session and it feels good to see it coming into fruition,” Hutchinson said. “Finally we are bringing jobs to the people of Illinois. The unemployment rate keeps rising and jobs are becoming harder and harder to find. This will give people the opportunity to find a steady, good-paying job.”

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – State Senator William Delgado (D-Chicago) applauded the governor’s decision to sign the capital bill into law today. Senator Delgado said the legislation will help stimulate our economy by putting people back to work.

"Local projects that will be funded through this legislation include facility improvements to both local schools and area health and community centers," said Delgado, Chairman of the Senate Public Health Committee."

"Illinois has not had a capital bill in over ten years, and our local infrastructure has suffered for it," said Delgado. "The bill will aid in revitalizing communities throughout the District."

SPRINGFIELD, IL- State Sen. Gary Forby (D-Benton) believes the state’s new capital construction plan will make desperately needed repairs and put hundreds of thousands to work.

“I’ve been saying Illinois government needs to do two things since I took office,” Forby said. “We need a capital construction plan, and we need to pay our bills on time. Now that the capital plan has been signed into law, we’re halfway there.”

The governor signed the capital bill in a formal ceremony in Chicago, more than a month after it passed the General Assembly. The plan allocates more than $30 billion to repair and construct roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and other vital facilities. Some of the largest projects in Southern Illinois include: