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Although there isn’t a full budget for Illinois, money for capital projects will be put to work to help ensure a military intelligence operation moves to the Land of Lincoln, according to members of Congress and Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Gov. Rauner said Friday that despite the state budget impasse, the state’s Democrats and Republicans agreed on capital funds for various projects throughout the state.
One project the governor said is a priority is building infrastructure in hopes the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, or NGA, western headquarters moves to metro-east St. Louis.
“There is no budget impasse of any sort that will impact the investment and the infrastructure needed to make this facility work,” Rauner said.
* Public Radio…
NGA Director Robert Cardillo met with representatives from both Illinois and Missouri on Friday. The NGA is expected to make a preliminary decision on where to build the $1.6 billion project on April 1st. Proposals for St. Clair County and north St. Louis City quickly emerged as front runners, and officials are now entering into the home stretch of making their case to the agency, which employs about 3,100 people in St. Louis.
Illinois’ $115 million in incentives includes about $54 million already being spent on nearby road upgrades and infrastructure, Rauner said. If selected, St. Clair County intends to donate the 182 acres outlined in the proposed site near Scott Air Force Base.
During the press conference, Illinois representatives made their case for moving the NGA’s western headquarters to St. Clair County. Rauner proposed creating a hiring pipeline to the agency from the University of Illinois’ computer science and engineering programs. Senator Mark Kirk said the NGA should be closer to the military in the case of an emergency.
“If the enemy tries to take out NGA—with a 4,000 pound IED, they wouldn’t be able to do that. I want to make sure the NGA is always in the position to deliver key, real time imagery to the war fighter,” Kirk said.
What an odd thing to say.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:35 pm
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Shaking my head at Kirk’s comments.
Comment by downstater Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:39 pm
So, why does the budget impasse impact other needs in the state?
Comment by JackD Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:40 pm
Dear Senator Kirk
What was that quote that went along the lines of “it is better to be silent so people may think you are an idiot, than it is to open your mouth and people will know you are an idiot.”
Please take your foot out of your mouth before you respond.
Thanks,
Voters of Illinois
Comment by Huh? Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:43 pm
I’d be interested in this “hiring pipeline” idea of Rauner’s. Has he ever heard of www.usajobs.gov? Suggest he look at the requirements there for hiring Federal employees, especially for high security ratings and military work. You don’t just get the ILBEDC and DCEO to “build a pipeline”.
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:43 pm
Wait, what? The universities can go bankrupt and shut down but we have money for this? Really?
Comment by Chucktownian Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:43 pm
Current openings at DOD NGA (not all for St. Louis):
https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/?keyword=DOD+NGA&Location=&AutoCompleteSelected=&search=Search
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:49 pm
Rich, the rauner-funded illinois policy institute now owns illinois radio network. The network should have that disclaimer so people understand the source. They’ve been trying to masquerade as news for while now.
Comment by said so Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:52 pm
For those who are tracking the story and understand the issue- this is not an odd thing to say. Kirk has been on this line for a while- and is correct.
From an earlier BND story:
“With NGA in Missouri, you don’t have adequate setback from a potential terrorist car bomb or something like that,” Kirk said. “The worst of all worlds would be a car bomb that interrupted the headquarters activity (of NGA) and knocked out that capability for the U.S. military. Which is why it can’t be in Missouri.”
Comment by BeepBeep Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:56 pm
I don’t understand what Sen. Kirk was trying to say. Is that because of reporting/editing/context?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:04 pm
As -beep beep- notes, Kirk’s comments come off as odd to the average listener. However, it is in fact a valid concern for the Saint Louis site. Physical security of the site should dictate no vehicular access with xx feet of the building. That’s much tougher to do in a city setting.
Comment by illini97 Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:21 pm
Rauner should have checked in with DoD and the U of I before making that comment. The armed services and intelligence agencies already hire Illini.
I guess what he’s proposing is greater collaboration between NGA and Champaign-Urbana to ensure there’s a steady supply of even more Illinoisans ready to work?
Comment by illini97 Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Great….as they say here in East St. Louis, we just can’t get us no get right.
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:27 pm
I guess I’m confused as to which part was odd. The security concerns? Rauner’s comment? All of the above?
We saw what a VBIED-type attack could do in Oklahoma City; seems like a valid concern. Or maybe I’m misreading the post?
Comment by Liandro Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:35 pm
Was Kirk in Colorado recently?
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 3:01 pm
This facillity needs to stay in Missouri. They need it more than we do.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 5:59 pm
That’s me at 5:59pm
Comment by Leave a Light on George Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 6:00 pm
You forgot to call IRN “the Illinois Policy Institute’s radio news service.”
Comment by Fred Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 6:38 pm