County board OKs high-speed rail resolution by one vote
URBANA -- By an 11-10 party-line vote Champaign County Board members Tuesday night endorsed establishing a network of high speed rail in the Midwest, including Champaign-Urbana.
"All this says is that we think this is a good idea," said board Chair C. Pius Weibel, who introduced the resolution. "It doesn't have a deadline on it. It doesn't say how we're going to pay for it. If it's all private sector, great."
But most board Republicans, except Brad Jones of Champaign who abstained, were opposed.
"I respectfully disagree with the chairman," said Mahomet Republican John Jay, who said he was concerned about costs and the nation's ability to pay for it. "I don't think it's a good idea. I do not think we need to send a message that it's a good idea with all these unknown factors."
"The cost of these things is going to be astronomical for the benefits," said rural Urbana Republican Steve Moser.
"We keep wanting more, more, more and faster, faster, faster," said Rantoul Republican Stan James. "Let's take care of what we've already got."
But board Democrats supported the measure.
Urbana Democrat Tom Betz said all of the recent stimulus funding should have gone to high speed rail because it is a permanent, long-lasting infrastructure improvement.
Champaign Democrat Michael Richards said no other community in the state would benefit more from high speed rail than Champaign-Urbana.
"We at the least need to continue to show that we are supportive of this," Richards said.
Champaign Democrat Jan Anderson said she took a bullet train in Japan in the 1970s and that the United States "needs to look to the future. We are way behind on this issue."
In other action, board members unanimously approved the appointment of Mahomet Republican Gary Maxwell to replace Larry Sapp on the board. Sapp resigned from his District 1 seat earlier this summer. Maxwell will formally succeed Sapp at the full board meeting later this month.
Three of the current 26 board members were absent from Tuesday's meeting -- Democrats Giraldo Rosales, Lorraine Cowart and Lloyd Carter.
MoreYou know, it's bad enough that Republicans trash every single idea that requires the spending of tax dollars without actually thinking if it might be a good idea. Now they're voting against ideas because they MIGHT require some tax dollars? Nice to see the Tea Party alive and well right here in Champaign County.
We don't have the money, period. What little we do have should be used for more important projects. I'm for getting out of our wars and using that money to pay down our debt so we will have money one day to do things like high speed rail. In the meantime, head on out to Monticello if you need to ride the choo choo.
Is it any surprise to you all that even with a national debt measured in the TRILLIONS of dollars, that our local lefties want to continue their "SPEND, SPEND, SPEND" mentality on something of so little significance to fixing the economy? How about we get ourselves out of the spending mess that we've gotten ourselves into before blowing money on niceties such as this not-so-high-speed rail system that only averages under 30 mph faster than what we already have? Sheesh, you really can't fix stupid!
Thank you Republican county board members for at least demonstrating to us all , if nothing more than symbolically, who has cornered the market on common sense in our county board.
"Sheesh, you really can't fix stupid!": I was thinking the same thing -- every single time the US has tried to reduce debt (=reduce jobs) and not raise taxes, the economy has taken a severe nose dive.
But you say -- isn't it already bad now? Well, history shows it can get much worse. Even the republican's beloved Reagan raised taxes. Do so, and use the money for infrastructure during a period of extremely low interest rates, produce jobs, build the economy. It's that simple :)
Raising taxes is such a tired argument. We cannot tax our way out of the current situation. In the short term, taxes will hurt the economy. What you really want to do is raise revenue. You can only do that by reducing regulations and lowering taxes. You will never improve the economy by sucking out more of its life force. Furthermore, the debt is already starting to crush everything to death. If we don't cut spending and lower taxes we are on our way to a tipping point whereby we can never recover. It is simply obvious. If in your household you spent over 40% of your monthly income on credit card debt, how would raising your credit limit help you? It amazes me how progressives see so clearly the value of renewable energy but cannot understand that government monies are like fossil fuels, they are not renewable because the government does not create wealth. The only renewable source of wealth is the private sector and yet progressives want to exploit the private sector to death. Care for the environment and care for the economy or you will lose both.
"Raising taxes is such a tired argument...
If in your household you spent over 40% of your monthly income on credit card debt..."
In my opinion, that's the tired argument. The state and the country are _not_ the same as a household.
That sad Republican talking point/analogy is too simplistic.
"You can only do that by reducing regulations and lowering taxes..."
Another tired Republican argument. How did reducing regulations help in the banking industry? It helped fund managers make off with billions of dollars and everyone else holding the bag and greatly contributing to the situation we're in.
In fact, the reason why our banks do so well is because of the regulatory standards we have compared to some less developed countries.
Finally, I propose you look at Canada, which has a much larger tax base and way more regulation.
Did they have a housing crisis? (No -- regulation prevented that.) They're doing reasonably well.
Although I agree Canada is not the US, it's a better comparison than "the household".
High speed access to Chicago would benefit CU and the Universtiy of Illinois. Willard Airport is more and more being marginalized with major airports in Indianapolis, Chicago, and Bloomington-Normal. The ability to transport people from the transporation hubs in Chicago and Chicago area itself will help keep this area from being commercially and socially isolated.
The route for Chicago - St. Louis will go either through Springfield, or Champaign. If it goes through Springfield; Alton, and Bloomington will benefit. If it goes through Champaign; Mattoon, and Effingham will benefit. Champaign, and Kankakee were in competition years ago for the state university, and the state mental asylum. Kankakee won the competition based on political power. Wonder who would win this competition if both communities stay involved in it? Springfield is having some second thoughts about it based on infrastructure costs that the municipality would have to pay for. When the U of I completes it's state paid grant study on high speed rail, more comprehensive information will be available to the legislature. I hope it goes through Iowa, and Missouri. Central Illinois cannot afford it.
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