Kids still face unsafe roads as state holds U.S. funds

The money is intended to save lives. Other states quickly put the funds they received from Washington to work.

[centralscrutiniz er]

"Honest, Mr. Fitzgerald, we have no idea where the money went..."

[Long-time Trib Reader]

This is a classic story of Blago mismanagement. Add this one to the pile.

Funny how Blago is quick to pay for free train rides for seniors but NOT figure out a way to help school kids.

Right... kids do not vote. Seniors do.

[Not Chicago]

You will notice that none of these cities are CHICAGO. When they become part of CHICAGO, maybe POA will care.

[Louise]

Why not just go back to neighborhood schools, park the buses.

Blago will never spend the money on the purpose intended. He has too many people to pass it out to.

[Miss Jane Hathaway]

Here is another example of the inspiring and focused leadership provided by the worst governor (and his posse) in Illinois history.
To underperform the likes of Ryan, Walker and "Put It Their Tab" Thompson is no small achievement. Props to you, Rod (and your henchman Emil).

[Ed O]

End Integration and you will end 99% of our problems!
Leave Blago alone he gave me free bus rides!
WOOOOHOOOO!

[Larry]

blah blah may need this money for things like rebuilding a church, paying his lawyers...

[raze the ladder]

No mention of the planned projects in Chicago, even tho it's supposed to get almost a million dollars. What does Chicago want to spend the money on?

[R Shipley]

"Asked where the $8.3 million in federal money is being held, Claffey said: "I don't know where the money is. I'll check."

The money is not listed as a line item in the state's fiscal 2008 budget. Sources indicated the money won't be made available until sometime in the new fiscal year, which starts July 1.

Though not a federal requirement, local governments in Illinois are required to pay for and then seek reimbursement from IDOT for their projects, even though the Federal Highway Administration already passed along the full $8.3 million to Illinois last year, Claffey said.

The state's problem is that it lacks the working capital to fund the reimbursements."

Sounds to me like the money has been spent on other things. Wonder what the Feds will do when they get wind of this.

[Jake]

The money being withheld is an intentional act on Blago's part. He hands out money to only those who supports his tactics. Everyone else suffers. It's the Blago way of doing business.

[Robert A Brown Jr]

Welcome to the way Fort Lauderdale is run. Earmarked funds go to pet projects of politicians. Also neighboring South Florida cities all the way to the beginnings of the keys.

I can't talk for northern Florida but I suspect the very same thing. Read the South Florida Sun-Sentinel sometime, A real joke for a paper, even though the Chicago Tribune had the results of Tuesdays Election. The headlines read
"Winners to Dance Contest are." , I digress.

Florida voters aren't being counted though so anybody who writes about it in the Sun Sentinel are just bringing it to the public attention.

I suspect the same in Illinois, but for a different reason. You voted for President Bush. This is your punishment "Take It Like A Man." If you vote for a republican for President you will get 10 fold of this because of his tax cuts and war mongering. There simply isn't any money and the money has to go to the most important of survival.

Remember this next election day.

[Willie]

shame on these leaders. more shame on the ones who voted for these people.

[Allen]

Robert A Brown Jr wrote:

Remember this next election day.

We can't remember what we had for lunch last Tuesday let alone what we'll remember in November. Once the 30 second sound bites are gone, we'll continue to elect the wrong people just like the lemmings we've become. Republicans, Democrats, it doesn't matter. If You want honest Government in Illinois, limit campaign contributions by businesses and allow re-call elections to weed out the corruption. Why wait until they leave office?

[not suprised]

"It's For The Children", B.S. If the children got half the money the Politicians say they are going to get, none of them would have to go to school, they could retire at 12 years old!

[Mike]

Write your reps..........another burning question avoided.......so where is the money? I am getting tired of this. Maybe they are using it to fund lawmakers raises.

[even scarier]

what's even scarier for these kids than roads to school, is the third world type of Illinois and Cook County government that these kids are going to grow up into. They didn't have a chance.

[sowhat]

The money has been embezzled. Plain and simple.

[Oy Vey]

How about parents stop trying to raise their kids in suburban hell-holes requiring subsidization? I walked to an existing school on existing sidewalks in the city, why should I, Federal Taxpayer, subsidize these freeloading sprawlmeisters? When little Tommy gets fat or has trouble crossing the street, BLAME THE PARENTS for thinking that suburban dystopia was a good place to raise kids, don't pass the buck on to me...

[Oy Vey]

Oh, and Blago is a crook.

[THE TRUTH]

ROB BLOWAGAYBITCH IS WHAT WE ALL WANTED WE ELECTED THIS PIECE OF CRAP,THE TOLLWAY PRICE HIKE WAS SUPPOSED TO SETTLE THIS BUT HASNT,JUST WAIT TILL THE OTHER ILLINOIS SENATOR BECOMES PRESIDENT THEN WE ARE ALL SCREWED WE NEED REAL LEADERSHIP AND IN THIS TIME WE HAVE NO LEADERS JUST OPERTUNIST