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Statehouse work has lawmakers seeking space
By Kurt Erickson
kurt.erickson@lee.net
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SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois lawmakers will give up their cushy chairs and spacious desks when they return to action in mid-November.

Because of an on-going renovation of the current state capitol, the General Assembly will meet in other quarters during the fall veto session scheduled to begin Nov. 14.

Members of the House will convene in the Old State Capitol, which is now a tourist site in the center of downtown Springfield.

The Senate has scoped out a meeting area in the nearby Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

Both locations are several blocks from the capitol complex, home to lawmakers' offices and staff. They lack many of the amenities that keep the legislative session flowing smoothly, such as electronic voting boards, sound systems and ample seating for visitors, lobbyists and the press.

Lawmakers will continue to use their offices in the Capitol, but will take shuttle buses to get to and from the temporary venues.

A spokeswoman for Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, said the potential pitfalls of meeting in temporary space will not limit what lawmakers hope to accomplish in the short session.

"We plan to do the usual business," said Cindy Davidsmeyer.

Among issues on tap for lawmakers is a proposal to stop Ameren and ComEd from moving forward with their plan to raise residential electric rates by as much as 50 percent beginning Jan. 1.

The change was prompted by a $20-million-plus renovation project of the Capitol, which includes upgrading an aging heating and air-conditioning system. Workers also are removing asbestos and restoring the House and Senate chambers to make them appear as they did in the late 1800s.

The entire project is expected to take four years, but the House and Senate chambers had been expected to be completed by the beginning of the veto session. Now, however, the two are in varying stages of disarray as an army of construction workers push to finish their work.

The project is the first major renovation of the Capitol since the 1970s.

It also is the first time the Old State Capitol will be used in an official capacity since the 1960s, when it served as home to delegates updating the Illinois state Constitution. The last meeting of the House of Representatives in the chamber occurred in 1876.

"It's going to be tight. But it worked over 100 years ago, it will work now," said David Blanchette, spokesman for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which manages the old capitol.

"I think it will be a little different atmosphere," said Tim Mapes, chief of staff to House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.

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Reader comments on this story - 4 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Broke ? wrote on Oct 24, 2006 2:57 PM:

" State shouldn't be broke any longer since we are one of the few states that have a % on gas instead of flat tax. With the price of gas the state should be bring in money by the fist full. "

SICK wrote on Oct 24, 2006 9:26 AM:

" THE STATE SAYS IT IS BROKE,YOU CAN'T TELL! LETS TAKE THE PENSON MONEY FROM THE STATE PINSON AND BUY NEW BUSES FOR CHICAGO, LETS BUILD A WORLD CLASS SHOOTING RANGE IN SOUTHERN IL,LETS NOT HIRE PEOPLE TO FILL THE SHOTAGE IN THE STATE&WE CAN GIVE OURSELF A RAISEAND OUR PINSON IS FULLY FOUNED, THAT WHAT OUR CARING LAWMAKERS THANK OF YOU "

Move IT wrote on Oct 24, 2006 5:59 AM:

" To Vandalia State House State Historic Site. Nice hard benchs and coal heat. Its been refurbished. A perfect place for some grass roots legislation. Make the press and lobbyists stand out in the cold Illinois weather. "

reader wrote on Oct 23, 2006 9:06 PM:

" What a waste of money. Anyone that works for the government knows how they throw stuff out,and waste money.They are always changing the way they do things thinking they are coming up with some brilliant idea that is really just a big waste of time and money.They state says they can't hire more people then they hire some more office staff.They don't want you using your vacation or sick time ,but do nothing when an employee threatens the foreman with violence .They just sweep that under the rug so to speak. "
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