SPRINGFIELD - Three times, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich vetoed legislation to let semi trucks go 65 mph on Illinois rural interstates.

Now, Gov. Pat Quinn will get a crack at it.

On Monday, the Illinois Senate approved a plan to allow big rigs to legally travel the same speed as cars on interstates outside of Chicago and the St. Louis metropolitan area. Now, the speed limit for semis is 55 mph.

Lawmakers have been down this road before. But each time, Blagojevich vetoed it, citing safety concerns from the large trucks going faster.

So far, Quinn's stance on the matter is unclear, and his spokesman didn't immediately return a request for comment.

Supporters argue it's actually safer for the trucks to be moving at the same pace as the rest of traffic on interstates, so it makes sense to raise the speed limit. Senators agreed and approved by a 40-8 vote.

Others, though, argue most truckers already drive faster than 55 mph.

State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said a 65 mph speed limit for would probably mean trucks actually going more than 70 mph. And that wouldn't be good for gas mileage and the bottom lines of some trucking companies.

"If they were to enforce the law at 65, they'd be for it," said Luechtefeld, who voted "no."

The legislation is House Bill 3956.