Legislators in Search of Local Site for IDOT Division of Traffic Safety

Springfield, IL – With the Governor’s plan to move the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of Traffic Safety to southern Illinois, Representative’s Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) and Rich Brauer (R-Petersburg), along with Senator Larry Bomke (R-Springfield) today toured local state facilities in an attempt to find a local home for the IDOT division. The Legislators toured the Illinois Department of Transportation (HanleyBuilding), the Illinois State Police Central Headquarters, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Headquarters and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“I think we learned today that not all local options have been explored in keeping IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety in Springfield,” said Poe. “We visited four state facilities and found that every one of them had vacant space. The State Police believe they will have one entire floor available upon consolidation, while the Environmental Protection Agency currently have two floors completely unoccupied. There is definitely room in our state facilities to house IDOT’s Traffic Safety Division.” Continue reading »

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Springfield, IL – In response to news last week of the Governor’s intent to move the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Traffic Safety from Springfield, Representatives Poe and Brauer have started a petition drive to show local support for keeping the Traffic Safety jobs here in Springfield. Copies of the petition may be obtained through the offices of Representatives Poe & Brauer, and through a number of local groups including: AFSCME, The Springfield Chamber and Downtown Springfield Inc..

“We are asking the Springfield area community to join us in our fight to keep IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety here in Springfield by passing this petition,” said Poe. “Under this Governor’s watch we have witnessed state government cut to bare bones, we have witnessed state government moved to Chicago, now we are witnessing an attempt to move state government to southern Illinois. Enough is enough.” Continue reading »

Springfield, IL…State Representative Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) met today with members of the Capital Development Board (CDB) to discuss the electrical power failure and maintenance needs for the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Poe has been seeking information on the condition of the buildings at the Illinois State Fairgrounds since an electrical power failure closed the grounds to the public in mid-February. The fair closure resulted in millions of dollars in lost revenue for the city of Springfield.

“Today I had the opportunity to sit down with CDB to discuss what occurred with the electrical failure at the fairgrounds, and what measures are being put in place for the future,” said Poe. “From the discussions we had, there is no indication that CDB had prior knowledge of any problems with the high voltage electrical system at the State Fairgrounds. I am not sure that we will ever know definitively what caused the mass electrical failure at the State Fairgrounds. That being said, I am hopeful that the addition of new safeguards will provide for more accountability with state facilities in the future.” Continue reading »

Springfield, IL – Representatives Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) and Rich Brauer (R-Petersburg) expressed disappointment today with the failed passage of a Senate Joint Constitutional Amendment that would have given voters the opportunity to decide if they want the authority to recall elected officials. Senate Joint Constitutional Amendment 70 failed to garner the three-fifths majority required for passage by three votes. Continue reading »