BLOOMINGTON - Rewriting the Illinois Constitution will only create chaos out of the confusion that already exists in Springfield, according to four local groups whose representatives gathered Tuesday at the Laborers' Hall.

Hoping to get their message to voters before Election Day, the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, Bloomington-Normal Trades and Labor Assembly, Illinois Farm Bureau and McLean County League of Women Voters said they oppose holding a constitutional convention.

The representatives said they are worried current dissatisfaction with elected officials in Springfield may tempt voters to approve a new convention. Under the state's current constitution, voters are asked through a binding referendum every 20 years if they want to rewrite the state's framework.

The issue was heavily defeated in 1988.

Kevin Semlow from the farm bureau likened the current political logjam in Springfield to having flat tires on a car.

"You change the tires," Semlow said. "You don't take out the engine, the doors and take out the transmission."

"A constitutional convention would be like throwing a deck of cards in the air. You have no idea where the cards are going to land," added Laurie Bergner from the league.

All four organizations agreed that a new constitution will not solve all the problems residents are looking at and would only create more problems.

"We have something in place that is working and can be amended," Semlow said. "It's not the constitution that is broken."

Chamber interim Director Mike Holzworth and assembly President Ronn Morehead said the state cannot afford the estimated $80 million the convention would cost. Currently, the state is looking at closing parks, historic sites and Pontiac Correctional Center to save money.

During Tuesday's meeting, state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, added that state officials cannot get it together to write a clear informational pamphlet about the proposed convention. Earlier this month, a Cook County Circuit Court judge found some of the language in the first pamphlet unacceptable and the pamphlets had to be reprinted at taxpayer expense.

"If we can't even get to the starting gate correctly, how are we going to get through this process without it turning into a big mess?" Brady asked.