August 25, 2009

To the Honorable Members of the Illinois House of Representatives,

96th General Assembly:

I hereby return House Bill 1322 with a specific recommendation for change.  I thank the sponsors for their hard work on this bill.  Over the past ten years, the State of Illinois has been without a jobs bill, and I believe that this legislation reflects public frustration at the paucity of a state investment in jobs.  However, on July 13^th, I signed a capital bill that will ensure that roads and bridges are built in every corner of our state, from Chicago to Woodstock to Rock Island to Cairo.

This legislation allows local units of government to pay for road construction out of a newly created fund that generates revenues through the County Option Motor Fuel Tax or the Special County Retailers Occupation Tax, and later reimbursed by the State.  Only a third of Illinois counties collect either of these taxes and even fewer will generate enough revenue to participate in the program.  That means less than one third of the counties in Illinois will be able to fund road construction projects through this program, yet it will place them ahead in getting funding of almost every other county, without authorization from the Secretary of Transportation, the General Assembly, or the Governor.

Therefore, pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 1322, entitled “AN ACT concerning local government.”, with the following specific recommendation for change:

on page 20, by replacing lines 24 and 25 with “Section 99. Effective Date. This Act takes effect on July 1, 2014.”.

With these changes, House Bill 1322 will have my approval.  I respectfully request your concurrence. 

Sincerely,

PAT QUINN

Governor