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Blagojevich wants IDOT jobs moved into region

By Mike Riopell, The Southern Springfield Bureau

Saturday, May 3, 2008 9:16 AM CDT

SPRINGFIELD - In a move already drawing controversy, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Friday that he wants to move 150 state traffic safety workers from their office in Springfield to Southern Illinois.

News of the move brought outrage and skepticism from some lawmakers and union officials in Springfield but cautious optimism from some Southern Illinoisans who said the area needs the jobs.

"Gov. Blagojevich is committed to growing the economy of Southern Illinois," Illinois Department of Transportation director Milton Sees said in a statement. "This move will bring new families and jobs to an area that needs them the most."

Sees, the former mayor of Mount Vernon, cited cost concerns in justifying the planned move, saying the lease on the Springfield building where some traffic safety workers are now is too expensive.

The decision came a day after the Senate rejected a proposal that could have given voters a chance to oust elected officials from office, including Blagojevich.

State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said he didn't know if the recall vote had anything to do with Friday's IDOT news, but said the decision was probably more complicated than a simple cost-cutting measure.

"I question if that's their real reason," Luechtefeld said. "I suspect there might be more to it than that."

State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, didn't vote for the recall proposal because he wasn't in the Senate Thursday. And depending on where the jobs end up, his district could stand to benefit.

Forby didn't return calls for comment Friday.

The union that represents 100 of the employees whose jobs could be moved said the state could save money on the lease by just moving the workers down the street rather than hundreds of miles away.

"If the motive is to save money, this proposal is a terrible idea," said Anders Lindall, spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

As expected, the proposed move generated outrage from Springfield officials where the jobs would be lost, and optimism from those in Southern Illinois who could stand to gain them.

"This guy's destroying the state, community and families," state Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, said of Blagojevich. "Enough is enough."

On the other hand, state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, complimented Sees for trying to move state government jobs around state. Bradley said he, like others who learned of the move Friday, was surprised to hear of the idea.

"Obviously, I'm not in the loop with the governor," Bradley said.

IDOT spokesman Brian Williamsen said an exact location hadn't yet been picked for a new office.

"Southern Illinois is as specific as it gets, right now," he said. "There has not been a specific town or site selected, in any way, shape or form at this point."

Still, some Southern Illinois leaders were optimistic.

"That would be awesome," said Gloria Atchison of the Benton-West City Area Chamber of Commerce. "Any time we can get jobs here of any kind, well, there would be a great impact."

Williamsen said the move won't be immediate. But he said he thinks because the jobs are being moved and not eliminated, IDOT won't have to go through the process of public hearings required when the state closes a facility.

"I think they're wrong," said Dan Long, director of the state Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. He said because the move is more than 10 miles and affects more than 25 employees, it counts.

Hearings and public input could delay a move by several months. Williamsen said Springfield employees will be offered the chance to move to Southern Illinois.

Lindall argued it's unlikely many would uproot their families for such a move.

mike.riopell@lee.net / (217) 789-0865