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The Senate Sunday passed the infrastructure bill to double the state’s gas tax and increase vehicle registration fees the day after the House rushed the bill through in overtime. […]
State Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, who voted against it, said the GOP votes provided cover to the Democrats in districts Republicans should be winning.
“And I just don’t really see anything substantial on the table there to put 20 votes on the table for a gas tax increase,” Wilhour said.
Nothing substantial, eh?
Rep. Wilhour’s Beecher City is in Effingham County, which is in IDOT District 7. District 7 received about $600 million in road and bridge projects in the capital bill. If you click here you can see the district’s projects. The district received about the same as District 2 (Rock Island, DeKalb, Kankakee).
District 8 (Metro East to Marion) received a couple of hundred million more than Wilhour’s District 7 (and Wilhour’s House district reaches into that IDOT district), and District 4 (Peoria) did slightly better than 7.
So, Wilhour’s sparsely populated IDOT district was basically tied for fourth out of 9, with District 1 receiving the most at $3.1 billion. But that’s Chicago and the suburbs, which has 65 percent of the state’s population.
All in all, I think he did pretty well. His region gets a bunch of state money and he didn’t vote to pay for it.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 10:55 am
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Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:02 am
Blaine should do the right thing and give it back.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:03 am
Do you have the project lists for the other districts?
Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:04 am
Not a Billionaire, yes, but I’m waiting on something first. Even better than this one. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:05 am
I am sure Rep. Wilhour will actively avoid all ribbon cuttings for projects paid for by the capital bill.
Comment by Montrose Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:07 am
I expect to see him releasing a letter to the IDOT District Chief demanding that he give the funds back.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:11 am
Thanks Rich . I have been busy dealing with a kitty illness and not had time online ex.here.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:12 am
Calling on commenters, let’s see how many photos we can find in the months ahead of Blaine and the bloc attending events to take credit for things they didn’t support/want.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:14 am
===So, Wilhour’s sparsely populated IDOT district was basically tied for fourth out of 9, with District 1 receiving the most at $1.6 billion. But that’s Chicago and the suburbs, which has 65 percent of the state’s population.===
Utter ignorance to his own situation.
===All in all, I think he did pretty well. His region gets a bunch of state money and he didn’t vote to pay for it.===
Wait till he shows up with his shovel for the photo ops, LOL
The ridiculousness of these GOP members knows no bounds.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:14 am
- Michelle Flaherty -
Very first thing I thought too…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:15 am
Wilhour represents a part of the Plummer Senate District as does my Representative Charlie Meier. I am curious to see how the votes of these members of the GA compared on those bills that passed and are awaiting a signature from JB.
Charlie proved that he would break with Rauner in the past. I am anxious to see what he did this time around, and Jason as well.
Maybe there has been some real bipartisan cooperation this session to move Illinois forward.
Putting policy before party dogma, and putting this state first, would be a refreshing improvement from these past 4 years.
Comment by illini Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:16 am
I get his point though. Republicans made it very easy for Pritzker and more importantly vulnerable Democrats this session. Not that I think this is a bad thing, but I could see how it might make it more difficult to campaign against tax increases in 2020 when half the caucus voted for doubling the gas tax and increasing vehicle registration fees by 50%.
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:22 am
$600 million for infrastructure is a nice get. I wonder what his district has contributed in taxes? I am willing to bet my house that it is less. Grifters.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:24 am
On the bright side for him, when everyone gets upset with all the road delays from construction, he can just say… “Wasn’t me!”
Comment by Ok Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:28 am
“Blaine should do the right thing and give it back.” or maybe just the portion that came from Chicago? That way he can “prove” how well downstate would do by itself. /snark
Comment by Skeptic Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:32 am
–Calling on commenters, let’s see how many photos we can find in the months ahead of Blaine and the bloc attending events to take credit for things they didn’t support/want.–
The very definition of an Entitlement Mentality.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:33 am
Possible challengers, take note.
Comment by Nick Name Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:38 am
How cynical is it to believe the only reason for a legislator to vote for or against a tax increase is how much will be spent in his district? No wonder people hate politics.
Comment by PrairieDog Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:48 am
==How cynical is it to believe the only reason for a legislator to vote for or against a tax increase is how much will be spent in his district?==
Accepting that roads and bridges don’t fix themselves, for free, isn’t cynical - it’s common sense.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 11:50 am
PrairieDog … Wilhour is the one who says he doesn’t see anything substantial. His comment indicates there is a measurement going on.
Comment by someonehastosayit Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 12:03 pm
I am that cynical. So cynical that I’m a bit annoyed at how much will be spent in his district.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 12:07 pm
Is there a breakdown of District 1’s capital projects?
Would be interesting to see where everything is going.
Comment by Meagher Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 12:26 pm
Well, the voters in his district will finally be able to drive to the polls to vote him another term on smooth roads and hear each other complain about big gubmint over the sound of their cars hitting potholes.
Comment by Harvest76 Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 12:30 pm
His city slickers in Effingham got the new lanes money
Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 12:54 pm
Meagan Rich said he is going to get them.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 12:57 pm
Blaine’s district is Trump Country. There is no way a challenger could succeed. Perhaps a primary opponent might unseat him and I was surprised there weren’t more qualified Republicans run in the Primary..
Comment by Big foot Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 1:01 pm
Well perhaps he will get a primary opponent from Olney . They wanted the 60 million for US 50. It all went to the big city of Effingham.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 1:23 pm
Kankakee is District 3 not 2.
Comment by Great IDea Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 1:41 pm
These Eastern Blockheads not only don’t want to participate in a Democratic government, they apparently would prefer austerity to starve their districts.
Fortunately, the rest of the state props them up.
Separate from Chicago, indeed.
Comment by A. Citizen Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:20 pm
Where’d you get that project list for District 7? Would like to see the rest of the districts. Looks like a scanned copy, so that tells me it’s top secret.
Comment by Boochie Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 5:14 pm
It looks like a sheet that the Gov would have had IDOT prepare for leaders to hand around to members of he did himself. After seeing if it’s OK the votes are assembled. I wondered if some get an add this project scribbled on.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 5:37 pm
–How cynical is it to believe the only reason for a legislator to vote for or against a tax increase is how much will be spent in his district?–
You’re confused as to the definition of “cynical” applicable here:
–2.
concerned only with one’s own interests and typically disregarding accepted or appropriate standards in order to achieve them.–
Voting against raising the money to protect your own self-interest, and then diving snout-first into the trough in your own self-interest, is cynical.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 6:49 pm
Anyone out their with the know on average number of gallons of gas sold in illinois on a month by month basis. Should be easy to then check on sales after July 1.
Had to go to Barnes in St. Loo today. Gas prices currently 40 cents higher in the Metro East. Doubtful if the 19 cents has anyone driving across the river but should be easy to track.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 7:24 pm
I went to the cup calculator and that price index exactly doubled since 1990.Other inflation gauges are usually a little lower. However all construction costs have surged past inflation. The other big cost driver is health care. The state has trouble because it is in the middle of the 2 biggest inflation drivers.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 8:55 am