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State plans to cut back IDOT job estimates

By Kartikay Mehrotra, The Southern Springfield Bureau

Thursday, May 15, 2008 11:28 AM CDT

SPRINGFIELD - The number of state transportation jobs Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants to move from Springfield to Southern Illinois may be shrinking.

After originally saying 148 Illinois Department of Transportation workers would be moved out of Springfield to an undisclosed location in southern Illinois, the agency confirmed that number now may be closer to 110 workers.

Those who may be staying in Springfield include the director of the Division of Traffic Safety and some of his top staff.

"That may be a ballpark number, not at all final," IDOT spokesman Brian Williamsen said Wednesday.

The governor said his plan, now two weeks old, was designed to help Southern Illinois' sputtering economy by transferring state jobs into the region.

"Certainly, it can have a big impact," Williamsen said.

But many current division employees don't buy Blagojevich's plan as just a good deed for the southern region of the state.

On Tuesday, at a rally at the Capitol, a contingent of some 200 state employees made their dissatisfaction with Blagojevich's decision well-known. Workers wore T-shirts reading "Impeach Him" and held banners with the governor's face behind bars and the slogan "Now That's Reform."

Local lawmakers urging Blagojevich to keep the jobs in Springfield made brief appearances.

"He didn't want to move to Springfield, but he has no problem disrupting other families," said state Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield.

"It just doesn't seem like the governor is listening," said state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth.

Last week in Carbondale, the governor said he has "pretty much" already decided where the jobs will be relocated, however he has yet to announce where.

"Basically it's shopping. You have to shop around to look for the best bargain and best price," said Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch.

kartikay.mehrotra@lee.net

(217) 789-0865