The View from Illinois
Illinois' Senior Senator, Dick Durbin, held a press conference on the St. Louis riverfront today. With the Illinois-side waterfront as his backdrop, Durbin outlined his priorities as the assistant majority leader in the 110th Congress, as well as issues that affect both Missouri and Illinois.
An issue that strikes home for many in the St. Louis region is bridging the Mississippi. It has become a source of frustration for many, including Durbin, who has become frustrated by a "wall of opposition" thrown up by Missouri lawmakers.
"We have done our part," said Durbin, "More than our part."
Saying that the Illinois delegation has done the footwork to make the numbers work, Durbin said they had received "little to no" cooperation from the Missouri side.
At issue is how to pay for a new bridge, one expected to cost close to one billion dollars. Missouri officials are pushing a toll on travel, an idea Illinois won't even touch. One alternative suggested by Illinois is a smaller companion bridge to the M.L. King bridge, an idea Missouri has flatly rejected.
It stands, as does the traffic on the Poplar Street Bridge, at impasse.
Asked about the election of a Senator Claire McCaskill, Durbin said he "thinks the world of Claire." He expects his new colleague to be of great help to the Democrats in the Senate. Her experience as an auditor and prosecutor will work well in the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Durbin hit on issues that many Democrats addressed in their campaigns this fall.
Durbin criticized recent increases in student loans saying affordable education is being pushed out of the reach of many. Those who finish, exit with increasingly heavy debt.
When Durbin's colleges take the reigns in January, one of the first pieces of legislation will be an increase in the minimum wage from $5.15/hour to $7.25 over 26 months.
Pushing that the Iraqi government needs to take on greater responsibility, Durbin said, "America has been patient, out troops have been heroic."
Durbin added that for the government to be successful, there needs to be stability, which meant, "the militias have to go".
Much of the ongoing violence has been driven by militias. It's nexus is the state of war between Shiite and Sunni populations; as well as inter-necine fighting amongst the militias. Add in their actions against the coalition and Iraqi government forces, and it is hard to know which side anyone is on.
Durbin's hope may be dashed by a potential shift in U.S. policy in Iraq. Following a quiet 2-day meeting of the Bush administration's national security team last weekend, two options have leaked their way out. One is referred to as the "tilt" strategy which proposes to pull out as a mediator between the warring Shiite and Sunni forces and instead back the Shiite majority. The other option to leak out is a "big push" of up to 20,000 troops into Baghdad to try and quell the fighting.
Recent reports in the Guardian suggest the "big push" is the more likely move of the two options.
What was that other billion dollar project we just had to have? Oh yes, a new runway.
I love how the region projects increased traffic, we build roads to meet this projection, and then sprawl continues and then they turn around and say, "see we told you there would be increased traffic."
Posted by Urban Review on Fri., Nov 17, 2006 at 5:20 PMInteresting article, Matthew.
Remarks out of the administration over the last 48 hours do seem to suggest that the president is indifferent to citizen's disapproval of his war.
Ultimately, members of Congress are probably going to have to be more forceful in their opposition to the war than they'd feel comfortable with today.
It's not going to be pretty.
Posted by kate on Fri., Nov 17, 2006 at 11:10 PMA new bridge will help the St. Louis region prosper, especially if it is a beautiful thing.
People like to surround themselves in beauty. Let's build a beautiful bridge.
St. Louis should be known for bridges, not divides.
Posted by one voice on Sat., Nov 18, 2006 at 10:06 AMWithout the bridge sprawl will continue westwards continuing to move the Center City from the center of the region. A bridge giving people easier access to Illinois will be more likely to balance the development making Illinois more attractive--thus maintaining the city as the center of the region.
On top of that, Illinois is moving forward with more light rail than St. Charles County or Jefferson County so the development over there is far more healthy than what is going on in western St. Charles County.
Beyond that, the Bridge will move some of the cross country traffic around downtown, a not unreasonable goal for an interstate traffic system
Posted by ArchPundit on Sat., Nov 18, 2006 at 12:39 PMIs the development in Illinois far more healthy than in St. Charles County?
Visit Cahokia, East St. Louis, Madison and Grainte City and see how healthy they look.
A more likely result of the development of the eastside is neglect of the center and expansion of the exurban ring.
Posted by left behind on Mon., Nov 20, 2006 at 11:22 AMPerhaps we should think about sponsorships like San Francisco now has to consider for the Golden Gate Bridge: http://adage.com/article?article_id=113357 -
Posted by newsteve on Mon., Nov 20, 2006 at 12:37 PM==Is the development in Illinois far more healthy than in St. Charles County?
Sure--you pick out the worst areas, but also areas that would have greater incentives to redevelop if there was easier transportation across the river. I'd much rather have the development center around the core of the region keeping it balanced and not reaching farther and farther out to Columbia.
Posted by archpundit on Mon., Nov 20, 2006 at 12:47 PMThe proposed bridge doesn't serve East St. Louis very well. The plans almost seem to indicate a desire to keep motorists out of that city. The proposed coupler to the MLK would be better for East St. Louis and the inner ring of east side cities.
The McKinley Bridge project admittedly will be a boon to Madison and Granite City.
Posted by left behind on Mon., Nov 20, 2006 at 1:33 PMBut the impact of the bridge won't simply be at the point of the bridge---by having 70 bypass the Poplar that traffic will be moved and allow for easier flows. On top of it, Illinois is actually looking at real Metrolink Expansion since Illinois will pay for it--overall, the development over there in the next 10-15 years should be strong, and more healthy for the region than continuing in St. Charles County west and continuing.
Posted by archpundit on Mon., Nov 20, 2006 at 5:02 PM
Right a Wrong. Submit any tips or story ideas by using our anonymous email form. Confidentiality is guaranteed.