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Pantagraph EditorialTuesday, May 6, 2008 12:02 AM CDT
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Targeting Pontiac prison is more hocus-pocus
By the Pantagraph Editorial Board
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Once again, Rod Blagojevich the Political Magician has waved his wand and pulled a skunk out of his hat.

The governor's latest trick is turning a plan to close a portion of Stateville Correctional Center into a plan to close Pontiac Correctional Center.

Fortunately, it will take more than chanting "abra cadabra" to complete this stunt.

The State Facilities Closure Act requires public hearings and a study of operational costs, budget impact and economic impact on a community before prisons, mental health centers or residential facilities for veterans can be closed.

But be watchful. After the Stateville announcement, the governor's office tried to claim the Facilities Closure Act didn't apply because the governor was only closing part of Stateville.

As in the original Stateville proposal, the governor's plan is to transfer inmates to the nearly empty Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois - supposedly in the interest of saving the state money. The closure would displace an estimated 1,600 inmates and more than 500 employees in Pontiac.

When this magician says there's nothing up his sleeve, it's difficult to believe him.

The State Facilities Closure Act was enacted after Blagojevich attempted to close Pontiac and Vandalia prisons in 2004. Blagojevich's aides claimed at the time it was only a coincidence that the targeted prisons were located in the districts of two key Republican foes - state Rep. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, and Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson.

Once again, Blagojevich is targeting Pontiac. Apparently, the governor figures he no longer needs - or was unlikely to get - Rutherford's vote on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules Committee to implement his healthcare plan.

The state clearly needs to take action to balance its budget. But the action must be well-thought out and not politically motivated.

We asked this question after Blagojevich said Stateville would be closed and we'll ask it again: Why wasn't there any mention of closing prisons in the governor's February budget address?

If any in-depth research preceded the decision, why was the location abruptly switched from the Joliet area to Pontiac barely two months after the initial announcement?

Illinoisans are getting tired of the hocus-pocus from the governor's office. That goes double for Blagojevich's "disappearing act" when it comes to spending - or not spending - time in Springfield.

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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.

FYI wrote on May 6, 2008 5:33 PM:

" Greed: What? He raised taxes for everyone; especially professionals. Just in the last 2 years, he doubled/tripled/quadrupled licensing fees, ins, bonds, etc etc. I never voted for him, nor would I, and I am a democrat...I thought he was republican, based on his record. "

FYI wrote on May 6, 2008 5:27 PM:

" They should close more and end political oppression of US citizens. We will beat them back. "

Melanie11 wrote on May 6, 2008 5:02 PM:

" Problem is greed... more money would have been saved if they closed stateville than if they closed Pontiac... read the artical. "

greed wrote on May 6, 2008 3:36 PM:

" The governor probably didn't get many votes in Pontiac anyway. For the life of me I cannot understand all the snipping at this governor. Not a peep out of anybody here locally when The Republican Darling, Jim Edgar, raised taxes here by 50%. I can say that the current governor has not raised my taxes. Period. If he can save money by closing Pontiac, then it should be studied. I am sure current employees would have first chance to re-apply for jobs at the new facility. Plants close all the time and move to China or Mexico. This would not be the case. Remember the good jobs lost at Eureka? Why should state employees be guaranteed a job any more than ones in private industry? "
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