A group of anti-privatization activists met Monday, August 22, with legislators who have proposed a massive new privatization scheme aimed at Illinois' transportation infrastructure. The activists also met with with Governor Quinn's top legislative and policy staff. The legislators told the activists that the main reason for proposing new privatization of roads, bridges, tunnels, bus projects and high-speed rail projects is that the state can't borrow money. State Rep. Nekritz and State Sen. Steans said, "We don't have a lot of bonding potential in the state of Illinois. I don't know if you noticed, but we're very indebted."

But the governor's legislative director, Lindsay Anderson, told the group that the state has untapped abilities to raise money via the bond market.

At issue is HB 1091, The Public-Private Partnership for Transportation Act, which for the first time would allow private entities to build and operate road ways, toll ways, bridges, tunnels, bus systems and high-speed rail operations in Illinois. The bill is awaiting Governor Quinn's signature.

"We made a strong case to State Senator Heather Steans and State Representative Elaine Nekritz this morning," said the organizer of the meetings, Dr. Lora Chamberlain of Protect Chicago's Water. "Our team of volunteers had thoroughly reviewed HB 1091, which Steans and Nekritz sponsored, and listed the dozens of serious issues we have with this bill. Despite our deep reservations about this policy, we were told by the legislators that the state is broke and unable to get funds for needed transportation projects."

And yet, one hour after the meeting with the legislators, the activists met with a team of Governor Quinn's top policy aides, including John Kamis, Senior Advisor to the Governor and Lindsay Anderson, the Governor's Legislative Director. "Ms. Anderson was quite emphatic that the State of Illinois has not reached its limit on its ability to borrow or to go to the bond market for needed and worthy projects," said Tom Tresser of Protect Our Public Assets. "So what is the reason for this rush to privatize when doing so is detrimental to state taxpayers?"

The group of activists that were in the meetings today were Dr. Lora Chamberlain (Protect Chicago's Water), Joyce Good and Cyndi Green (Citizens Act to Protect Our Water), David Kennedy (Protect Chicago's Water), Joan Levin, Roy Lipscomb and Clare Tobin (Illinois Ballot Integrity Project), Charles Paidock (Citizens Taking Action-CTA Riders), Tom Tresser (Protect Our Public Assets). This group of concerned citizens is organizing a larger coalition to fight privatization whose working title is Privatization Watch Illinois.

Says Dr. Chamberlain, "We are urging all concerned citizens to call the Governor's office at 312-814-2121 and tell him to veto HB 1091. People can also circulate our online petition via Twitter at act.ly/45d ."

Copyright Tom Tresser, permission granted to redistribute verbatim.