SPRINGFIELD - Perhaps the most telling measure of just how bad things have gotten between Illinois' squabbling state leaders is this:

Virtually all of them say the state needs a massive new program to rebuild Illinois' aging road networks and other infrastructure, creating hundreds of thousands of Illinois jobs (in an election year), paying for it largely with federal dollars that are just waiting to be claimed.

Yet, they can't agree on how to start it. In fact, they can't even get themselves into the same room to talk about it.

"There's this almost unanimous view that this needs to happen … but there's all this ill-will built up in Springfield, and you're seeing it vented over the (infrastructure) plan," said Jay Stewart, executive director of the Better Government Association in Chicago. "They're all Democrats, and they can't agree on what day of the week it is."

Meanwhile, he noted: "It's been nine years since we've had an infrastructure plan. The infrastructure doesn't get better over nine years."

As a concept, the infrastructure plan has widespread support in Springfield, and a generally positive precedent in the tradition of previous programs such as "Build Illinois" and "Illinois FIRST."

The idea is a long-term program to overhaul brick-and-mortar public amenities around the state - roads, bridges, airports, school buildings, sewers, civic centers - beyond what's covered by the regular state budget. (Think of it in terms of having your house sided this summer instead of just repainting again.)

A major sticking point has been the controversial funding mechanism, which would include leasing the state lottery to private investors, something no other state in the U.S. has done.

But it's clear that another major holdup is the personal war of wills in Springfield, primarily between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, both Chicago Democrats.

The infrastructure measure was passed by the Senate this year but is stalled in the House, where Madigan cites concerns about the funding method - but also legislative distrust of Blagojevich.

"It all goes back to the question of trust of the governor," Madigan told reporters late on May 31, the last night of the regular legislative session. "The majority of the House just simply does not have enough trust in Gov. Blagojevich … to give him the authority to spend the amount of money that was being proposed in the bill."

Blagojevich and his supporters accuse Madigan of obstructionist politics. And they warn that the clock is ticking on billions of dollars in federal matching funds that could evaporate at almost any time.

"This has got to happen this summer. The jobs are on the line," said Blagojevich spokeswoman Katie Ridgway, echoing the high-urgency narrative the administration is pushing.

Blagojevich's office is trying to push through legislative reluctance with a coordinated campaign to whip up public support for the program. It has created a catchy name - "Illinois Works" - to highlight the 700,000 jobs proponents believe it will create.

There's a Web site (illinoisworkscoalition.com/), with details about the program, schedules of public events, video presentations and directions for contacting local lawmakers to express support.

It's all wrapped up under an omnipresent logo that hammers home the "jobs" theme: an image of a bulldozer, in front of the shape of Illinois.

The administration has brought in two well-regarded heavyweights from both state parties - former Republican U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former Democratic congressman and one-time gubernatorial candidate Glenn Poshard - to provide some of the political gravitas that Blagojevich himself lacks with the Legislature and the public these days.

Still, some legislators remain torn between their eagerness to open up the spending spigot that will bring jobs and new roads to their districts, and their fury at Blagojevich over his unilateral rewriting of last year's state budget.

"We all agree that we need a capital bill (to launch the infrastructure plan). There's no doubt about that," state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, told House colleagues in floor debate on the last day of the session last month. "But we'd be nuts to give (Blagojevich) a blank check."

The rift most recently has centered on Blagojevich's repeated calls to legislative leaders of both parties to meet with him in Chicago on budget issues. Madigan has been the only leader to send surrogates rather than attend himself.

"This is a personal issue (between Blagojevich and Madigan), it's an issue that doesn't belong in the arena of public policy," said Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, expressing frustration over the impasse. "These guys have got to grow up."

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Illinois Works

The proposed $34.7 billion, multiyear program would be funded with a combination of state funds, matching federal funds and bonds.

Among new funds that would be raised

- Partial lease of the Illinois Lottery to private investors - $7 billion.

- Expansion of existing casinos, and addition of one in Chicago,

to generate more state tax revenue - $700 million.

Among spending categories

- Roads and bridges - $10.8 billion.

- Public transit - $5 billion.

- School construction - $4.1 billion.

- Urban revitalization - $1 billion.

w Airports - $305 million.

Among Metro East-area projects

w $177.8 million toward the new Mississippi River bridge project.*

w $33.5 million toward the new Metro East Forensic Lab

at Belleville.

w $1.9 million toward the Collinsville Regional Office Building

to replace the roof.

w $1 million toward the Alton Mental Health Center to replace roofs.

w $625,000 toward the Collinsville Civic Center.

* State officials have said the bridge project is not dependent on passage of the capital plan.

If the capital plan fails, money will be provided from other sources.

Source: Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office