Friday, February 4, 2005 9:59 AM CST
Local lawmakers downplay governor's upbeat speech
By Shelby Sebens, Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD -- Despite Gov. Rod Blagojevich's promises of a better Illinois, many local lawmakers remain skeptical that the state's chief will stay true to his word.
In his third State of the State address Thursday, Blagojevich took a more positive approach than last year's thrashing of the Illinois State Board of Education.
"There was no whipping boy today, which I think is good," said Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville.
Watson was pleased with the governor's address and its focus on downstate Illinois.
"I would have to say a lot of what was said here today was a Republican agenda," he said.
However, the minority leader remained critical.
"I hope he's sincere, that's the only problem I might have — that track record out there of floating out ideas and then not following through has accompanied this governor over the last couple of years," Watson said.
Other lawmakers found the governor's cheery message even harder to accept.
"I feel fortunate that I didn't trip over any of the smoke machines and mirrors," said state Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville. The representative said he agrees with many of Blagojevich's proposals but questions how genuine his promises really are.
Blagojevich's pledge to increase jobs struck a false chord with many legislators.
"Let's not forget that this is the same governor that brought us a billion dollars in taxes and fees on small businesses that put 50,000 people out of work two years ago," said state Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet.
State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, said Decatur lost 30 jobs at Intermet Corp this week.
"I don't see any job growth in Central Illinois," Mitchell said. "I think the governor has kind of a lack of understanding of downstate Illinois."
However, state Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mt. Zion, said he was glad to hear Blagojevich's plans to roll out the Opportunity Returns programs for Central Illinois.
Flider said the state's economy does seem to be improving but not quickly enough.
"It's not good enough yet. I don't really know that it's really ever going to be good enough till we get back to the incredibly good economic times we had prior to 9/11," he said.
Many lawmakers were upset that Blagojevich did not mention the estimated $2.1 billion deficit the state might be facing in Fiscal Year 2006.
"I don't know that I share the governor's optimism about the condition that the state's in, particularly fiscally," said state Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon. "He mentioned solving the budget deficits. We haven't done that, we've put it off."
Blagojevich promised to tackle the issue of skyrocketing worker's compensation costs by creating an anti-fraud unit. The unit would have investigative and subpoena powers, enabling it to reveal medical provider, insurer, worker, and employer fraud.
State Rep. David Reis, R-Ste. Marie, said he is willing to work with the governor on this issue if Blagojevich is sincere.
"We need meaningful reforms in those areas and not just something that's going to glaze over and appear to give relief and give no relief at all," Reis said.
The governor will give his budget address Feb. 16.
Shelby Sebens can be reached at shelby.sebens@lee.net or 789-0865.
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