RSS
Home
Federal stimulus money funneled to politically vulnerable Illinois Dems
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Something doesn’t smell right here, and I’m not talking about sewage. Well, actually I am. To be precise, the subject is the nexus between federal stimulus money, Illinois water treatment facilities, and vulnerable politicians seeking an edge in the 2010 elections. Looking at one small piece of the pork-pie--in this case, funds for municipal water projects in Illinois--allows us a glimpse into the apparently pervasive influence of Democratic party politics on the stimulus approval process.
On October 19th Governor Pat Quinn joined the Illinois EPA director in announcing tens of millions of dollars in federal grants and loans for projects across the state aimed at improving wastewater quality. The money for these “shovel ready” projects will come out of the $787 billion appropriated by Congress last year under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
It is undoubtedly the case that industrial states like Illinois have shortchanged their infrastructure for decades. So in addition to providing hundreds of badly needed jobs in the state, this federal money should spark some critical improvements to municipal water supplies.
That being said, this is Illinois, and we are not so naïve as to believe that this enormous pot of American taxpayer money will simply be divvied up to the most deserving projects with no political considerations whatsoever.
Still, even hardened cynics may be a little surprised by the raw political calculations on display in the Illinois wastewater cleanup bonanza. Of the five projects slated to receive federal stimulus money, no fewer than three are to be found in the congressional districts of vulnerable rookie Democrats. Another project lies in a Democratic stronghold, but may boost the prospects of its state rep currently contending for an open congressional seat in the neighboring district.
The biggest prize of all, a $20 million interest free “loan,” goes to the Springfield Metropolitan Sanitary District, which sits between two Republican districts but politically-speaking feeds from a bipartisan trough. This case will need to be examined separately, but it bears noting that more than three-quarters of all the ARRA money divvied up thus far for water infrastructure in Illinois is earmarked for this one project serving just 140,000 residents. Hmmm.
At the moment I wish to call attention to the four smaller Illinois projects funded under ARRA and the lucky politicos that stand to benefit. Relatively speaking, we are not talking about a lot of money: roughly $6 million. But competition for these funds has been fierce. The Illinois EPA received over 1,600 formal proposals for ARRA money to help repair or replace waste or drinking water infrastructure. They received $260 million for distribution, while the proposals received totaled close to $5 billion. A lot of communities walked away empty-handed, only a few walked off with a prize.
Where is the money going?
Only one of the approved projects is in Cook County: a $2 million interest free loan to replace existing water intake and distribution lines with the latest innovation—heated pipes that won’t freeze and clog in the harsh Chicago winter. While Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky probably doesn’t need to demonstrate her ability to bring home the pork, these things never hurt.
More to the point, Schakowsky’s close associate and political ally, Julie Hamos represents Evanston in Springfield and is vying for the 10th district seat currently held by Mark Kirk. Is this $2 million upgrade a sweet foretaste of what the North Shore can hope for from Washington if Schakowsky sweeps her Mini-Me into office next year? That may very well be the message behind this “gift.”
But the real story here lies in the projects slated for Aurora, Yorkville and Normal. The first two lie within the 14th district, tenuously held since March 2008 by Democrat Bill Foster. Previously, this seat belonged to former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R), who resigned it at the end of 2007.
Foster has been identified as one of the most vulnerable House Democrats going into next year’s election cycle. So it may not be entirely luck that $2.6 million in federal money made its way to his district at this critical moment.
Similarly, the Democratic Representative from Illinois’ 11th District, Debbie Halvorson, faces a steep climb in her quest for reelection next year. But at least her constituents in the Town of Normal (population 50,000) will be grateful for the $1.5 million in stimulus money destined to go toward replacing their water filters.
Judging by the past 8 years of water reports posted online by Normal’s Water Department, there are no problems with the quality of the town’s water. But it’ll no doubt be even better with the new taxpayer-funded filters. Still, one can’t help but contrast Normal’s good fortune with the bad luck of another Illinois town: Crestwood, in south suburban Cook County.
Crestwood's water woes are ignored
Last April the Chicago Tribune ran a series of shocking investigative articles revealing that the Village of Crestwood had knowingly exposed residents to dangerous chemicals in their drinking water for nearly two decades, all the while lying to both residents and the state EPA about the source of its water. The source of the pollution was a municipal well heavily contaminated by dry cleaning solvent run-off.
Their local elected officials lied to them for years, telling them that 100% of their water was being drawn from Lake Michigan, when in fact they were still drawing some water from the toxic well. So thousands of residents have been effectively poisoned by the people most responsible for keeping them safe.
It was only in 2007 that the well was actually sealed off, preventing any further contamination of drinking supplies. But residents are rightly angry at the pattern of abuse they suffered, and lawsuits are (predictably) proliferating.
I can't help but wonder why Crestwood is not getting some of the federal money earmarked for clean water supplies. But then again, their district is the IL 1st, represented by Democrat Bobby Rush, one of the most secure Democrats in Congress. And despite his impassioned calls back in April for more state and federal resources for Crestwood, a more recent list of his top priorities makes no mention of the village or its water woes.
If I lived in Crestwood, I would be demanding answers, right now.
