Gov. George Ryan and Mayor Richard Daley are in Washington, D.C., today presenting the state’s congressional delegation with a wish list for federal funding of programs in the state.
During their annual joint lobbying campaign they are focusing on transportation, technology, education, school construction and initiatives to improve parks and rivers.
The Republican governor and Democratic mayor adopted a unified federal agenda last year, hoping to overcome infighting among rural, suburban and urban lawmakers and dreaming of drawing on U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert’s new powers as Speaker of the House. But the ambitious goals they set mostly went unrealized.
However, Ryan’s and Daley’s list “is smaller, more focused this year,” said Mike Stokke, deputy chief of staff to Hastert. “They’re more likely to reach some of their goals.”
Highlights of the wish list include $19.2 million for shoreline reconstruction along Lake Michigan, more than $500 million for technology development and $92 million to complete work on Wacker Drive and the Stevenson Expressway.
They also are seeking $75 million for expansion of the Metra suburban commuter rail service and $82 million to renovate the Chicago Transit Authority’s Douglas Branch Line and expand platforms along the Ravenswood Line.
In addition, the two leaders want an $800 million increase in federal child-care block grants, as well as higher funding for welfare-to-work assistance.
The proposed Abraham Lincoln Library, a personal favorite of Ryan’s as well as of several members of the congressional delegation, is on the list for $10 million.
About $28 million is requested for a favorite cause of Democratic South Side Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Bobby Rush: An economic development project at USX’s abandoned South Works site.
Federal assistance is requested for state and local government projects to foster development of high-technology companies in Chicago, DuPage County and Champaign-Urbana.
The mayor and governor also are supporting passage of a proposed federal program to promote preservation of parks and open spaces, which they estimate would provide $50 million for the state. They also would like federal funding for the state’s own Illinois Rivers 2020 program.
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