McHenry County Blog

8/29/6 - Below is a press release I have received about what State Senators Peter Roskam and Kirk Dillard believe is in the future for tollway users. (You can find an earlier late April one here.

You may wish to refer back to some earlier comments I made that suggested the senators were being a bit too centered on DuPage County interests. While understandable, a broader perspective needs to include the interests of those areas whose residents heavily use the tollway, but through which few miles of highway run.

ROSKAM AND DILLARD WARN SUBURBANITES OF POST-ELECTION SURPRISE: Toll Increases Tied to Profits for Chicago Democrats

GLEN ELLYN - Senators Peter Roskam and Kirk Dillard warned suburbanites about a "post-election surprise" amid two media reports which indicated that Chicago Democratic leadership is still considering leasing the tollway. A new state report indicates that the more tolls are increased the more the state would receive from the proposed lease. Another media report indicated that a lion's share of the profits from leasing the tollway would likely leave the suburbs.

At an Illinois State Senate hearing in DuPage County, Senators Roskam and Dillard sounded off at Chicago Democratic plans to lease the tollway that could double tolls on motorists and send the revenue to Chicago and downstate Illinois.

"These findings indicate what I alwaysthought," said Roskam. The Chicago Democratic leadership in this state is ready to double your tolls and leave suburban communities holding the bag as they use the proceeds from this now $23 billion sale to bail out their irresponsible spending habits which have left our children and grandchildren a $3 billion deficit."

"Suburbanites should be outraged that decades of their nickels and dimes might be used for projects across the state," said Dillard. "Today's announcement reveals that the Chicago Democrats will raid our tollway like they raided our pension and road funds.

This decision could impact suburban residents and communities for decades."

In a recent Daily Herald article, it was reported that "...the report underscores just how much the state's take from leasing the tollway is directly tied to toll hikes." The Daily Herald also reported that "as much as 60% of the state's potential take would likely go outside the suburban region." DuPage County and suburban Cook County represent the majority of the tollway's 274 miles.

Roskam and Dillard have been outspoken critics of the proposed lease of the Illinois tollway. Below are the public actions both Senators have taken on this issue.

Roskam - Dillard Actions

· Roskam and Dillard co-sponsored legislation (S.B. 1386) that would require that 66% of the lease price would be used for projects or purposes that benefit the county traversed by the toll road. The bill also requires annual payments to ensure a steady revenue stream, a 20 year lease limit and would prohibit political contributions by the new operator.

· On May 15th, Roskam and Dillard held a press conference at the Illinois Tollway Headquarters calling the proposal a "recipe for disaster" for suburban taxpayers and communities.

· On May 31st, Roskam and Dillard held another press conference at the James R. Thompson Center urging the Democratic leadership to hold hearings in the communities that are most affected - DuPage and suburban Cook County.