McCain's Fantasy War on Earmarks

[one...two...tree 2,762]

"I can eliminate $100 billion of wasteful and earmark spending immediately--35 billion in big spending bills in the last two years, and another 65 billion that has already been made a permanent part of the budget."

--John McCain, NPR All Things Considered, April 23, 2008.

John McCain boasts that he can save $100 billion a year "immediately" by eliminating the so-called earmarks that legislators attach to spending bills to finance pet projects, usually in their home state. But he has refused to say exactly which projects he would cut, and his estimates of the amount of money that is being spent on earmarks have been challenged by independent experts.

The Facts

The Arizona senator is promising to balance the budget by the end of his first term, while simultaneously extending the George W. Bush tax cuts, introducing billions of dollars of new tax cuts of his own, and remaining in Iraq as long as is necessary to stabilize that country. Asked how this miracle will be accomplished, McCain told George Stephanopoulos of ABC News This Week on April 20 that he could come up with $100 billion "tomorrow" by vetoing pork-barrel spending bills.

Here's $100 billion right here for you, George. Two years in a row, the last two years, the president of the United States has signed into law two big spending, pork barrel-laden bills with $35 billion (in earmarks). In the years before that, $65 billion. You do away with those, there's $100 billion right before you look at any agency.

Pouff! $100 billion in taxpayer money! Saved! Just like that! With a flick of the presidential veto pen!

There are a number of problems with this magical budgetary balancing act. First of all, the suspiciously round $100 billion figure is largely a figment of the McCain campaign's imagination. I have not been able to find a single independent budget expert to vouch for it. McCain's economics adviser, Doug Holtz-Eakin, will not say how the campaign arrived at the figure, other than that it is an extrapolation from various studies, including a 2006 study by the Congressional Research Service available here.

The CRS study breaks down earmarks by different government departments, without giving a global figure. According to Scott Lilly, a former Democratic appropriations staffer now with the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the CRS study identifies a total of $52 billion in earmarks for a single year. However, much of this money is tied to items such as foreign aid to countries like Israel, Egypt, and Jordan, that McCain says he will not touch.

By most definitions of the term, the amount of money spent on earmarks is much lower than the CRS study. The Office for Management and the Budget came up with a figure for $16.9 billion in the 2008 appropriation bills. Taxpayers for Commonsense, an independent watchdog group that focuses on wasteful spending, identified $18.3 billion worth of earmarks in the 2008 bills, a 23 per cent cut from a record $23.6 billion set in 2005.

How much of this $18.3 billion could be eliminated is a "difficult question that we have not yet figured out," said Taxpayers for Commonsense vice-president Steve Ellis. The figure includes such items as $4 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which could not be eliminated without halting hundreds of construction projects around the country. Another big chunk goes to military construction, including housing for servicemen and their families, which McCain has also promised not to touch.

Bruce Riedl, a budget analyst with the Heritage Foundation, says it might be possible to eliminate roughly half the expenditure on earmarks every year, i.e. around $9 billion, using the Taxpayers for Commonsense figures. He identified $5 billion in Community Development Block Grant funds, most of which goes to local governments, as a prime target for cuts. Even if earmarks were eliminated altogether, many other expenditures would have to be shifted to other parts of the budget.

Like other analysts, Riedl was mystified by McCain's argument that previous year's earmarks automatically become a "permanent part of the budget." "I don't understand how they come up with that," he told me.

Excluding those programs McCain has promised to preserve, the draconian slashing of earmark expenditures might save around $10 billion a year. But that is still a long way from the $100 billion in savings that McCain says that he can identify "immediately."

The McCain camp now says that the senator never meant to suggest that his proposed $100 billion in savings would all come from earmarks. Holtz-Eakin told me that McCain had simply promised to cut overall spending by around $100 billion. Some of these savings will come from earmarks, some from other parts of the budget. He declined to identify which specific projects would be cut.

Asked whether McCain had misspoke or whether he had been misunderstood in his focus on eliminating earmarks, Holtz-Eakin replied: "a bit of both."

The Pinocchio Test

McCain's talk about eliminating $100 billion a year in earmarks is largely fantasy. His advisers are now promoting a more realistic plan of eliminating $100 billion in overall spending. But it is difficult to take even that promise very seriously given the fact that the senator refuses to identify exactly which projects he will be cut. To use a phrase coined by George H.W. Bush, this is "voodoo economics," based more on wishful thinking than on hard data or carefully considered policy proposals.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checke...on_earmark.html

[cmartyn 0]

This earmark crusade is a populist joke. Certain earmarks are stupid. Look at the whole list and 95% of it should be in other bills anyways. Its called negotiation. Unless you turn the country into a dictatorship, your going to have earmarks. Perhaps thats the plan, we eliminate earmarks and only do what the repubs want done. Mostly nothing but Anti Gay, Pro-Life Pro Gun, Pro Military and Pro Fat cat #######. Sure great plan. At least his wife is good looking.

[GaryC 7]

Obama's Earmarks Released

Thursday, October 11, 2007; 5:08 PM

Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) requested federal funding for several projects as part of this year's annual appropriations process. The projects, with the amounts designated by his constituents and several national organizations were released by the senator.

Adler Planetarium, to support replacement of its projector and related equipment: $3,000,000.

One of its most popular attractions and teaching tools at the Adler Planetarium is the Sky Theater. The projection equipment in this theater is 40 years old, and is no longer supported with parts or service by the manufacturer. It has begun to fail, leaving the theater dark and groups of school students and other interested museum-goers without this very valuable and exciting learning experience.

AIDSCARE, Inc., for general operating support: $750,000.

AIDSCARE is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization that provides housing and care for homeless children, families and adults living with advanced HIV/AIDS in the Chicago Area.

AIDSCARE, Inc., for completion of the North Lawndale Campus: $2,000,000.

Upon its completion, the North Lawndale campus will offer 66 units of service-enriched housing for low-income and homeless individuals and families impacted by HIV/AIDS; an onsite Health Facility and Wellness Center for residents and other members of the community; and an 8,693-square-foot multi-purpose community center.

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Aledo, IL, to support its replacement of two aging water towers: $750,000.

Two aging 150,000-gallon water towers require replacement. The towers' water pressure is chronically low, and its supply is unreliable. Average daily use for the towers is 420,000 gallons.

American Red Cross of Illinois, for emergency preparedness: $5,000,000.

Funding will assist in providing 29 chapters and 3 blood service regions of the American Red Cross with the resources to be able to deliver mass care services in a timely matter in the event of a large-scale disaster. Funding will be used for equipment such as backup generators, shelter trailers, shelter supplies, stockpile cots, heater meals, response vehicles, and communications devices. This equipment will be strategically placed throughout the state, and will allow the Red Cross to serve requests by hospitals and trauma requests immediately and up to 72 hours.

American Theater Company, for the construction of a new facility in Logan Square: $200,000.

In the heart of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, American Theater Company (ATC) will build an 11,000 square foot theater complex using green construction standards that will provide a state-of-the-art experience for its artists and patrons. The theater will serve as a commercial and cultural hub for this diverse and growing neighborhood, welcoming audiences from within and outside of the community. It will be a home for the development of new American works and re-imagined classic American plays, and a center for the development of new talent.

Army Corps of Engineers in the Chicago District of Illinois, to support permanent construction of the Asian Carp Barrier: $7,500,000.

The State of Illinois has been working closely with the Chicago District and other Great Lakes agencies at both the federal and state level to keep Asian Carp from reaching the Great Lakes through the Chicago Waterway system. Funding will fulfill a Project Cooperation Agreement with the Corps to construct a second, more effective and permanent electrical barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

Army Corps of Engineers in the Chicago District of Illinois, to support Operations and Maintenance of the permanent Asian Carp Barrier: $1,000,000.

Funding the operation and maintenance of the Asian Carp Barrier is essential to prevent the introduction of Asian Carp, primarily Silver and Bighead Carp, into the Great Lakes ecosystem. The value of the Great Lakes fishery is estimated at around $4.5 billion/year, and experts have predicted that Asian Carp, if allowed to become established in the Great Lakes, would have devastating effects on important fish species such as Lake Trout, Perch and Salmon. An additional and very important benefit from the operation of this barrier is that it will still allow unimpeded navigation between the Illinois Waterway and Great Lakes.

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Army Corps of Engineers in the City of Rock Island, to support construction of Sunset Marina Harbor Entrance Improvements: $500,000.

The Sunset Marina Harbor Entrance Study, prepared by the Army Corps of Engineers, concluded that it would be cost effective to protect the harbor entrance by constructing an emergent dike. This new structure would deflect much of the silt past the entrance and reduce the harbor dredging frequency from about once every 3 years to once every 7 years.

Army Corps of Engineers in Illinois, to support project UMR-IWW System Navigation Study, IL, IA, MN, MO, & WI: $24,000,000.

Pre-Construction Engineering & Design (PED) of seven new 1,200-foot lock chambers and ecosystem restoration. Timely PED work for navigation is consistent with a recent study indicating that without new 1,200-foot lock chambers at the identified seven locations, American farmers stand to lose over $562 million annually in lost exports and domestic demand by 2020. Manufacturers and consumers also stand to lose from deteriorating infrastructure on our " Third Coast" in addition to the 400,000 jobs sustained by this transportation corridor. Construction of these new lock chambers will create at least 48 million man-hours, or up to 6,000 construction jobs each year, providing immediate economic benefits through high-skilled labor, and spurring much-needed economic growth that has historically occurred through investing in our lock and dam infrastructure.

Aurora University, to the Center for Latino Leadership and Education: $400,000.

Funding would establish a family-focused after school bilingual program for Latino families that would promote academic preparation and college readiness within an underserved population.

Benedictine University in Lisle, for the First Responder Program ¿ An Education Initiative for Public Safety Officers and Iraqi and Afghanistan Veterans: $1,750,000.

Currently, Benedictine offers secondary education degree programs to firefighters, who pay only for their textbooks; the University has absorbed all other costs. This project would expand the program to include Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and first responders throughout Illinois, allowing police, firemen, and Iraq and Afghanistan veterans throughout Illinois to receive a free education from Benedictine University.

Carpentersville, IL, for the Carpentersville Community Response Team: $500,000.

To address the growing influence of gang activity in the Village of Carpentersville, the police department created the Community Response Team. This team is a unique, multi-faceted approach to address the public's concerns through intervention, education and strict enforcement.

Carthage, IL, to develop the Illinois 336 Corridor Carthage Exchange: $1,350,000.

This utilities expansion project would enable Memorial Hospital to expand its healthcare campus and would also attract economic development in the area. The hospital is currently developing land acquisition, architectural, and financing plans to for the construction of a new hospital and medical office building, which will help Memorial Hospital better serve the community. In addition to enabling this hospital's expansion, the utilities expansion project would also enable and attract further development in the area.

Center for Advanced Design, Research, and Exploration (CADRE) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, for development of rapid wound healing therapies: $4,800,000.

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Funding will assist CADRE in the research and development of therapies to promote rapid wound healing, lessen infection, reduce bleeding and scarring, and reduce operational medical costs using Light Emitting Diodes and directed energy/radio-frequency therapies. CADRE's developments will be extremely critical in managing patients both in theater and those affected by homeland disasters and will potentially allow immediate response to wound healing, lessen infection and scaring, and reduce operation and medical costs.

Center for Advanced Design, Research, and Exploration (CADRE) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, to develop a hand-held device used in combat: $2,000,000.

This device will be able to detect and identify selected energy emissions, biomarkers, chemical and biological signatures; LEP goggles to block high intensity laser radiation while allowing low intensity light transmission for day and night vision. The device will be connected via a global positioning data link for immediate assessment, medical evaluation, and treatment decision-making, allowing the device to access and communicate with various operational, medical, and Defense databases.

Channahon, IL, for road upgrades: $12,000,000.

Upgrades include rebuilding the Interstate 55 and U.S. Route 6 Interchange with an eight lane bridge deck and relocated frontage roads.

Chicago Children's Advocacy Center, for Facility Improvements, Renovations, and Expansion of the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center for child abuse support services: $500,000.

Funding will assist the Center in building a 51,000 square foot, two-story addition adjacent to its existing facility. The new building will create the additional space needed for the professionals who work on child physical abuse cases as well as the space needed for expanded mental health and social support services. When complete, the Center anticipates that is expanded facility will allow it to serve 1,500 to 2,000 children suspected of physical abuse each year, in addition to the child sexual abuse cases it is already handling.

Chicago Children's Museum, for the construction of a new Chicago Children's Museum facility: 1,000,000.

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CCM is poised to begin construction of a new facility in Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Grant Park. This proposed construction would provide greater access and visibility for visitors, enhanced programming and coordination with area museums, and a valuable family resource for the neighborhood's growing residential community. Given current space limitations, this construction is integral to CCM's mission of effectively serving the families, children and communities of Chicago.

Chicago Children's Museum, for its Community Health and Wellness Initiatives: $300,000.

The Chicago Children's Museum's "Initiatives" were developed in response to growing child health problems such as obesity and asthma, particularly among children from low-income, isolated, African-American and Latino communities. These Initiatives aim to promote health and wellness to children, families, and caregivers through health fairs and child screenings that are part of CCM's weekly Free Family Night events.

Attracting over 500,000 visitors a year, CCM is ideally suited as a strategic starting point for addressing these pressing health issues. The requested funding is necessary for continued operation and improvement of the program by supporting labor, training and supply.

Chicago Park District, for the development of DuSable Park: $3,000,000.

DuSable Park will be a new 3.24-acre park located in downtown Chicago where the Chicago River meets Lake Michigan. The park will be dedicated to Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, and African-American and founder of modern day Chicago. The park will feature elements about DuSable and Chicago, ADA accessible walkways, native habitat, replacement of the damaged seawall, fishing opportunities and a wetland with boardwalk.

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Chicago Public Schools, for their Chicago Reading Initiative: Supported Literacy Programs: $4,000,000.

Funding would assist CPS to initiate the next phase in an initiative designed to achieve instructional and academic coherence across the district through adoption of a limited number of aligned reading programs.

CPS would offer elementary schools the opportunity to adopt a district-endorsed K-5 basal reading program from a list of approved publishers for the 2007-2008 school year. A comprehensive support system for literacy instruction in grades K-5 would be offered to support the use of new books. The support system would include ongoing, intensive professional development for teachers and administrators and modeling, coaching and mentoring for teachers.

Chicago State University, for research into unmanned aerial systems: $5,000,000.

Funding will be used to improve the effectiveness of the military's unmanned aerial systems by replacing conventional power supply systems with fuel cell technology packages specifically made for mobile robotics systems.

Chicago State University, to develop a sustainable and portable power system for military operation: $5,000,000.

Funding will assist CSU in the development of a solar cell power generating system that can be mounted on a backpack, and rapidly deployed and reconfigured for military operation. The system will include sensors, computing systems, and intelligent processing and communications systems.

Chicago State University, to the HIV/ AIDS Policy and Research Institute: $1,000,000.

In response to the growing HIV/AIDS crisis in the African American population, CSU has undertaken comprehensive approach to assist with efforts in the South Side of Chicago. This project would support local outreach, education, prevention and research efforts.

Children's Memorial Hospital, for the construction of Children's Memorial Hospital Intensive Care Unit Facilities: $3,000,000.

This funding would help provide care for the most critically ill children, including those with brain tumors or who are born extremely premature. As the only free-standing Level-I pediatric trauma center, new facilities would also provide care to children who may be injured in a mass casualty incident and suffer from traumatic injuries.

Columbia College Department of Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling in Chicago, for its A.I.M. Program in partnership with the Jesse Brown Veterans Administration Medical Center: $3,000,000.

The requested funding will assist in the expansion of the work in progress at the Jesse Brown Veterans Hospital, which has 1,800 returning OIF/ATF veterans that have sought treatment since the start of the war. Under Action-oriented Intervention through Movement Therapy (A.I.M.), returning veterans actively participate in their treatment through interventions such as breathwork, anger and anxiety management, relaxation training, meditation, guided visualization, thereby reducing anxiety, depression, and increasing self esteem.

Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago (ESMC), for its therapeutic School and Center for Autism Research: $1,500,000.

Illinois has seen a 353% increase in autism since 1993, and the ESMC Therapeutic School and Center for Autism Research responds to this trend.

ESMC currently operates three Therapeutic Day Schools that serve students with autism/profound developmental disabilities referred from 50+ Illinois school districts through a broad spectrum of academic and therapeutic services. The new Therapeutic School and Center for Autism Researchseeks to build upon this history and provide students from across Illinois with access to a state-of-the-art facility.

Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities in Springfield, for its Training Health Professionals program: $500,000.

Illinois and the nation are facing a critical workforce shortage in healthcare across a deep cross section of the industry. The Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities' challenge and goal is to meet the needs of the small business community and strengthen the technical, scientific, managerial and leadership capacity of our public health workforce. Bradley University, West Suburban College of Nursing and Rosalind Franklin University, in collaboration with the Federation, will develop new infrastructure and programs to increase enrollment in key health profession programs which will provide a better trained work force for the small business sector in the surrounding areas.

Field Museum, for roof repair and rainwater diversion: $4,900,000

The Field Museum encompasses one million square feet under a single roof spanning 5.25 acres protecting precious collections and welcoming millions of visitors. Targeted replacement of old and compromised roof sections is needed to restore integrity to the envelope of the building, and to safeguard the public exhibition galleries, the research laboratories, and the 23 million objects and specimens that constitute the Museum's scientifically irreplaceable collections. In addition, roof repair will allow for environmental engineering to alter the flow of water from the roof, capturing and return clean rainwater back to Lake Michigan and thereby decrease the amount of water entering the City's water treatment facilities.

Field Museum, to support the expansion of the Halls of the Americas, $1,000,000

This exhibition is devoted to the indigenous peoples and cultures of Central and North America prior to the arrival of Europeans. The exhibition will explore the realities of immigration-the influx of innumerable racial, cultural, and religious groups into North and Central America, and the development of a shared heritage over more than 200 years.

Franklin Park, IL, for construction of the Grand Avenue Underpass in Chicago, IL to ease congestion and increase traffic safety: $3,000,000

Grand Avenue, a major arterial street that extends from the edge of Chicago's Central Business District through Franklin Park and other western suburbs, was named by a Federal Railroad Administration/Illinois Commerce Commission study as home of the fourth-worst railroad crossing in the state of Illinois. The construction of the Grand Avenue Underpass allows for the constant flow of traffic under the new combined rail line.

Galesburg, IL, to support construction of a new water treatment facility at the Oquawka, Illinois facility along the Mississippi River: $1,500,000

Governors State University, for the Center of Excellence in Health Professions Education: $1,000,000

The College of Health Professions at Governors State University seeks funding to assist in the creation of a Center of Excellence in Health Professions Education. A program would be created to educate faculty for nursing, occupational therapy and physical therapy, and to improve the ability of health care practitioners to assist in the clinical education of health professions students. Funds would also provide opportunities for career advancement of health professionals.

Illinois Central College, for its Central Illinois Collaborative Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Initiative: $3,000,000

This program would provide candidates with a clear career path by acquiring technical skills and training necessary to transition into the workforce. The program aims to offset the Central Illinois worker shortage in the area of advanced manufacturing maintenance technology.

Illinois Institute of Technology, for research into impact-resistant materials: $1,500,000

Funding supports the analysis and virtual design of a novel class of impact-resistant materials to be employed in light yet extremely protective vehicle armor and explosives protective gear for personnel.

Illinois Institute of Technology, to support its Integrated Advance Energy Systems Research Initiative: $750,000

The Illinois Institute of Technology's Energy and Sustainability Institute is a nationally recognized leader in cutting edge energy research. The Institute has proposed an Integrated Advanced Energy Systems Research Initiative to apply its specialized expertise to solve critical research and development challenges directly related to achieving energy independence through environmentally friendly, commercially feasible approaches.

Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA), for the Electronic Health Record Project IPHCA: $2,000,000

This undertaking is an effort to assure the clear, concise retention and communication of patient-specific information among providers and payors in a manner that protects privacy. Electronic Health Records promote quality, reduce costs, and prevent medical errors.

Illinois State University, for the Chicago Teacher Education Pipeline Programs and Partnerships: $300,000

Funding would expand current partnership activities and further develop the Chicago Teacher Education Pipeline Programs & Partnerships. This would increase urban teacher recruitment, improve teacher preparation, and improve teacher retention.

Illinois State University, for the Great Lakes Teacher and Preparation Leadership Preparation Consortium: $500,000

Illinois State University, Eastern Michigan University and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee would create a Great Lakes Urban Teacher and Leadership Preparation Consortium. Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee Public School Districts would be involved in this consortium. The three partner institutions together with K-12 school districts and community organizations would collaboratively enhance teacher and leadership preparation capacity in these urban communities through recruitment and retention programs for hard to staff schools.

Illinois State University, to improve manufacturing competitiveness with further development of the Integrated Manufacturing Laboratory (IML): $500,000

The IML would provide students with experience in designing, implementing, and using state of the art manufacturing technology. The IML is slated to provide small to medium sized manufacturing businesses in Illinois seminars and courses so that they can learn the most effective ways to automate their operations.

Johnsburg, IL, to support construction of additional sewer lines: $2,000,000

The Village of Johnsburg is the largest municipality on the Illinois portion of the Fox River lacking a sewer system. An estimated 300,000,000 gallons per year of raw or partially treated wastewater is discharged from failing or failed septic tanks into the Fox River. This situation is problematic not only for residents, but also for visitors and the 200,000 individuals for whom the Fox River is a primary source of drinking water.

Lake County, for its Integrated Criminal Justice Information System: $1,000,000

Funding will be used to assist in the integration of each of the County's criminal justice departments and the municipal police computer networks in Lake County. An integrated justice system will improve the quality and uniformity of programs through interdepartmental data accuracy assurance, redefined workflows, and expanded tracking systems. Additionally, integrated justice systems will enhance a police department's timely access to information, including a suspect's past and pending charges.

Lee County Highway Department in Amboy, Illinois, for road upgrades, $300,000

These improvements will include the upgrading of Steward, Elva, Paw Paw and Perry Roads to Class II, 80,000 pound truck routes and the construction of a new Elva Road extension over I-39. This project will be in conjunction with the Greater Rochelle Area Transportation Improvement Plan developed to accommodate the current and future commercial/industrial growth in the region.

Lewis and Clark Community College, for its mobile health clinic to provide healthcare services to rural areas: $350,000

Funds are requested to purchase a mobile health clinic (RV) which will provide dental, general health and mental health care to more than 90,000 patients in four rural Illinois counties (Greene, Calhoun, Jersey and Macoupin). Funding will allow the mobile health clinic to perform ongoing services for 3,500 children in eleven targeted schools, in addition to community services such as pre-natal examinations, obstetric and gynecological examinations, and general public education programs will be provided by the clinic.

Lewis University Airport in Romeoville, for the extension of its primary runway: $3,420,000

The runway extension is to allow existing based and visiting corporate aircraft to safely and efficiently operate at Will County's Airport.

Long Creek, IL, to support construction of new water towers to increase its water capacity: $660,000

Long Creek has three elevated storage tanks with a total capacity of 300,000 gallons, but water demands require and additional storage capacity of 750,000 gallons. This funding would cover approximately half of the expense for necessary construction; the township would raise remaining funding.

Loretto Hospital, for the Launa Thompson Women's Health Pavilion: $550,000

The Loretto Hospital is an acute care hospital dedicated to providing comprehensive, affordable medical care. Funding would enable the construction, renovation and technology upgrade of the Launa Thompson Women's Health Pavilion. The facility would address the needs of women with issues of trauma and substance abuse disorders, and would include psychotherapy, parenting, and education on trauma issues.

Loyola University Chicago, to the Center for School District Leadership for distance learning: $1,000,000

The Center for School District Leadership will implement two interrelated school leadership initiatives to prepare hundreds of uniquely-qualified graduates for senior management positions in the Nation's urban, suburban and rural public school districts. Loyola University Chicago will serve as the host institution for the Center for School District leadership.

Manteno, IL, to connect existing and proposed parks in Kankakee County as part of the Manteno Greenways Trail System: $860,475

The Link system connects existing and proposed parks, educational facilities, commercial districts, and governmental service buildings. In addition, the Village Link proposes connections to the surrounding communities and the Kankakee River State Park.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in Rock Island, for the renovation and expansion of the Center: $1,000,0000

Expansion would include a technology center, training room, improved space for after school programming, and private counseling rooms.

McHenry County, for its Sheriff's Office law enforcement communication system: $1,000,000

The radio system owned by McHenry County and operated by the McHenry County Sheriff's Office needs to be replaced. This critical link between residents, dispatchers, and public safety officers was designed in 1953 and it has run its useful life and needs to be replaced with a new 800 MHz system. New technology will allow McHenry County to meet the communication needs of its Sheriff's Office and the 9 municipal police agencies for which it provides dispatch services, and will provide McHenry County with regional interoperability.

McHenry County, to widen Miller Road: $500,000

The state routes (Illinois Route 120 and Illinois Route 31) through the City of McHenry are heavily congested. Due to continued growth in this area, the existing Miller Road corridor is also heavily congested. The widened Miller Road corridor would enhance the mobility of the area by reducing congestion and improving safety and decreasing emergency response times.

McHenry County, for Flexible and Sustainable Training Solutions Initiative: $600,000

The Flexible and Sustainable Training Solutions Initiative would provide training so that employers' needs for skilled workers, and residents' needs for livable wages, can be met. "Boot camps" would provide intensive short-term occupational training in fields identified by employers through their participation on the McHenry County Workforce Investment Board.

Memorial Hospital, for necessary equipment upgrades for vascular disease diagnostics and screenings: $1,800,000

Funding would enable equipment upgrades for vascular disease diagnostics and screening. This would allow Memorial Hospital to offer screening and diagnostic tests for earlier intervention and care locally.

Memorial Medical Center, for Advanced Flatplate Cardiac Catherization/Electrophysiology Laboratory: $1,000,000

The Advanced Flatplate Cardiac Catheterization/ Electrophysiology laboratory in Springfield, IL, would perform advanced cardiac catheterizations and interventions, cardiac electrophysiological and mapping studies, and ablation therapy to treat abnormal electrical functions of the heart. The new flatplate delivers less radiation to the patient, produces sharper and clearer images that enhance diagnostic and treatment capabilities, and has the ability to produce 3-D imaging for improved detection and mapping of diseased vessels.

Metra, to expand and improve service: $65,000,000

Metra is the largest commuter rail system in the country in terms of number of lines, total track miles, and numbers of cars and locomotives. Funding will support environmental assessments and preliminary engineering which will establish a key rail connection throughout the northwest, west, and southwest suburbs and also offer the basis for expanded suburban rail service in the future and provide new service and stations for Chicago's south suburbs.

MetroLiNK Transit in Rock Island, to build a new state-of-the-art MetroLiNK Maintenance Facility: $5,000,000

This facility would provide maximum sustainability standards for maintenance, operations, and administrative functions. The new facility will consolidate all MetroLiNK services and vehicles at a single location. It would also provide on-site natural gas and diesel fueling operations, as well as vehicle cleaning and lubrication stations.

Millikin University School of Nursing, for the expansion and upgrade of their nursing program: $500,000

Funding will assist Millikin University School of Nursing to develop and market an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, improve simulation and laboratory facilities for teaching, target diverse student populations, and provide faculty development to grow the program and meet central and southern Illinois' needs for competent baccalaureate nursing graduates.

Mobile C.A.R.E. Foundation in Chicago, for the acquisition and operation of Asthma Vans: $300,000

Mobile C.A.R.E. provides free and comprehensive asthma care and health education to children in Chicago's underserved communities via mobile medical clinics, the Asthma Vans. Asthma is a growing burden on Chicago. A recent study by the University of Illinois at Chicago reports that 16% of non-Hispanic Black children and 20% of Puerto Rican children in Chicago have asthma while another 16% of each ethnicity exhibit symptoms of asthma without a diagnosis, compared to only 11% with asthma in the general U.S. population. Chicago also has the unwanted distinction of having one of the highest death rates from asthma in the entire nation.

Moline, IL, for the design and construction of River Tech Boulevard Road, $1,595,000

This road will provide vital access to this state supported joint economic development initiative at River Tech and higher education opportunity at Western Illinois University.

Moline, IL, to address congestion in the I-74 Corridor: $8,000,000

The I-74 Corridor extends from Avenue of the Cities in Moline, IL to the 53rd Street in Davenport, IA. The I-74 Bridge, which is significantly over capacity, is located within the corridor and carries almost 78,000 vehicles per day. Adequate access and capacity crossing the Mississippi

Rover is imperative for the Quad Cities to remain a vital community.

Morrison, IL, for construction of a railroad overpass: $3,812,000

All Morrison emergency services providers are located on the north side of the rail line--police, fire, hospital, ambulance, two of three medical clinics. More than half of Morrison's population is located on the south side of the tracks. The construction of a railroad overpass to serve the

Morrison community and surrounding area alleviates a dangerous condition by creating a transportation route that will protect the community's residents, school, children, the elderly and visitors attending local events from risks association with emergency response delays due to blocked rail crossings.

Mount Carroll, IL, to support reconstruction of its water distribution system: $2,000,000

The City Council of Mount Carroll has described the city's inadequate water service, fire flow protection, need to meet new regulatory requirements. This funding would enable the Water Systems Improvement

Project, which includes the following tasks: eliminate ground storage tank and high pumping facility; construct a 300,000-gallon elevated storage tank; construct a new municipal well; improve existing wells; create new mechanical, electrical and control system data; and replace water mains in various areas.

Mujeres Latinas en Accion, for the Parent Support Program and Women in Transition Program: $295,000

These programs provide services crucial to increasing parental efficacy and educate parents about creating a family environment that is supportive and conducive to emotional and academic growth. The curriculum teaches parents to help youth avoid gang involvement, stay in school, and improve their school performance all in a culturally sensitive atmosphere.

National Center for Family Literacy, for its Family Literacy for All Expansion: $250,000

The purpose of the family literacy model development is to meet the unique needs of families through high-quality family literacy programs. Programs would take place on-site in elementary schools, where all four components of services are to be provided: adult education/ESL classes; children's education; parent time; and Parent and Child Together (PACT) Time.

National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for its cybersecurity initiative: $7,500,000

Funding will assist the University's National Center for Supercomputing Applications¿a unique state-federal partnership to develop and deploy national-scale cyber-infrastructure that advances science and engineering. This initiative will addresses critical security needs and research requirements to develop a dynamic, adaptive cybersecurity infrastructure, focused in areas of data mining, intrusion detection and analysis, development of a variety of security tools, training and SCADA field testing.

National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for its Technology Research, Education and Commercialization Center (TRECC): $5,000,000

Funding will be used for the research and development of technologies relevant to Navy and Department of Defense requirements, to promote the use of advanced information technology, and encourage public and private sector efforts to commercialize technologies with the potential for use in defense and industrial markets. Additionally, TRECC hosts a web site providing resources identifying government funding opportunities for researchers and businesses.

National Myoclonus Center, for the expansion of the National Myoclonus Center: $400,000

Funding would expand the National Center for Myoclonus, the only medical institution in the country that focuses on the treatment and cure for this neurological auto-immune disorder. The Center also conducts health related activities that impact lupus and multiple sclerosis patients.

Normal, IL, for the construction of a multimodal transportation center, $10,000,000

Normal, working in close collaboration with Illinois State University (ISU) has developed a comprehensive plan for the redevelopment of its downtown, which is adjacent to the ISU campus. The centerpiece of the plan is a Multimodal Transportation Center located in the central business district. The Multimodal Center will provide a focus for multiple transportation modes including: bus, Amtrak, airport shuttles, taxis, park and ride facilities, and pedestrian connections to the downtown and ISU campus.

Northeastern Illinois Sewer Consortium, for sanitary and storm sewer system upgrades: $500,000

Four Lake County communities (Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest), which make up the Consortium, have experienced significant sewer backup and flooding problems. Funds would improve storm and sanitary sewers in each community through work on sewer lining, broken or collapsed segments, and other necessary upgrades.

Oakwood, IL, to replace its water distribution system: $836,000

Based on an engineering plan's analysis, the Village of Oakwood proposes an eighteen-phase project for repairing its water distribution system. To meet increasing water demands, the seventy year-old system requires fire hydrant construction, water main construction, and "looping" in of dead-end water mains.

Ogle County Highway Department, for the Southwest Rochelle Truck Loop, $150,000

Funding will be used to begin the engineering process on transportation infrastructure improvements. The improvements will include the upgrading of Intermodal Drive, Bush Grove Road, Gurler Road, Thorpe Road, Titus Road, and Center Road to Class II, 80,000 pound truck routes and the construction of a new bridge over the Kyte River. This project will construct designated truck loop around the Southwest Sides of the Union Pacific's Global III Intermodal Facility.

Olympia Fields, IL, to make safety upgrades and improvements of the 203rd Street and Crawford Avenue: $1,000,000

Making safety upgrades to this intersection will significantly improve both vehicular and pedestrian accessibility to St. James Hospital, residential neighborhoods, Rich Central High School , and other adjacent Village amenities, while providing a safer intersection for the residents and visitors.

Oregon, IL, for Route 251 & Steward Road Intersection Improvements, $125,000

These improvements will include the construction of dual right turn lanes from Steward Road and IL Route 251 and dual left turns from IL Route 251 onto Steward Road. Along with these turn lanes the intersection will be signalized.

Orland Park, IL, to expand U.S. 45: $450,000

Funding would be used for the widening of rail bridge and road U.S. 45 (La Grange Road), allowing for a six lane road configuration.

PACE Suburban Bus, to replace the radio system in all of its 672 fixed route buses: $2,500,000

The radio system is currently 11 years old, and because it is the primary method of communication between drivers and dispatchers, it is imperative that it be upgraded. The new radios will solve communication gaps that current buses experience. PACE provides 130,000 trips daily, and passengers throughout the region will experience fewer missed connections with other bus routes.

Patterson, IL, to support replacement of its "Drake Road" water main, $138,000

This water main has ruptured eleven times in the last five years. An Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DECO) Planning Grant assessed the water system and, in its analysis, attributed ruptures to exceedingly high operating pressures. The water main's age and exposure require that it be replaced.

Peoria, IL, to support its construction of its combined sewer overflow replacement: $500,000

This funding enables construction on combined sewer overflow replacement, which is based on a study required by USEPA and IEPA.

Poder Learning Center, for workforce training program: $200,000

The Poder Learning Center responds to the educational needs of the adult immigrant in the primarily Hispanic areas of Chicago's southwest side. The Center offers tuition-free classes to individuals, including ESL, Adult Basic Education, Keyboarding, GED preparation, and MOS and A+ certification to prepare successful graduates to compete for hi-tech positions. Funding will help support the Centers through support of training programs, equipment purchase, curriculum development.

Regional Climate Center, for the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC)/Illinois State Water Survey: $6,000,000

The MRCC provides climate data and information to users in a number of climate-sensitive sectors. The research and services in which we engage help to provide practical solutions to specific climate problems in economic and environmental areas such as agriculture, energy, risk management, transportation, and water resources.

Riverside Healthcare, for a Computerized Physician Order Entry system for Kankakee, IL: $2,000,000

Riverside Health Care, a regional health care provider, would implement the Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) system upgrade in a preliminary phase. This system would employ, in part: physician point of care technologies to promote interdisciplinary collaboration; online medical records to support analysis of patient problems and development of treatment approach; evidence -based order sets to guide best practices in physician and nurse clinician decision making; and immediate and urgent reminders of significant clinical changes to ensure appropriate and rapid response.

Rochelle, IL, for phase two of the Jack Dame Road/Union Pacific Railroad Overpass: $1,000,000

Funding requested will be used for improvements that will include the construction of an overpass ridge structure as well as a roadway that approaches in each direction. This structure will span the Union Pacific Railroad, three local industry spur tracks, and two local roadways to connect back into Illinois Route 38 West.

Rock Island Arsenal, to repair the roof on Building 299 for additional manufacturing space: $6,200,000

Building 299 is a 775,000 square foot warehouse constructed in 1942. The building is generally in good condition with the exception of the original roof, which is severely deteriorated. This project will completely remove, and properly dispose, all asbestos containing roofing components.

Currently, a significant portion of the building is being used to support the Global War on Terror in the form of manufacturing, and shipping and receiving armor kits.

Rock Island Arsenal, to support a more robust capability to rapidly produce up-armor vehicle kits: $10,500,000

The Arsenal will upgrade equipment to support the production of lightweight add on vehicle and body armor that is directly used to improve and increase manufacturing efforts in support of the Global War on Terror. Additionally, the equipment will also have significant safety and efficiency benefits for the Arsenal.

Rock Island Arsenal, to renovate and expand Rock Island Arsenal's combined Fire and Police Station facility: $3,500,000

The facility was originally constructed in 1874. Funding will help ensure that first responders have the facilities, resources, and equipment they need to do their jobs in the Quad Cities region. This important funding will modernize and expand the Rock Island Arsenal facility to allow police and fire personnel to effectively and rapidly respond to emergencies.

Rock Island Arsenal, to support the development and enhancement of flexible lightweight metal technology: $1,350,000

This program will improve the government's ability to fabricate new lightweight materials that have many military applications and posture commercial entities in the region to be on the cutting edge of lightweight metal technology.

Rockford College, to enhance classrooms: $490,000

This funding would equip classrooms and enhance student learning by outfitting classrooms and labs that will enable faculty to employ the most modern technology when instructing students and will measurably improve student performance.

Saint Xavier University, for nursing skills lab equipment: $500,000

Saint Xavier University seeks funding to equip laboratory space so that RN-BSN students can have a simulation and practice laboratory to develop stronger clinical skills. To alleviate a significant deficit in teaching, simulation mannequins are required to fully explain the scenarios and issues nurses will face.

Saint Xavier University, for the expansion of an early childhood professional development center: $900,000

Funding would help expand its current demonstration site for early childhood teacher education to meet the demand in the southwest Chicago metropolitan area. The School of Education would establish an Early Childhood Professional Development Center that would build on the work that has already begun with the Barbara Vick Early Childhood and Family center, the child Development Laboratory School, and other services provided to young children and their families.

Shawneetown, IL, to support updates and replacement of its water distribution system: $550,000

The City of Shawneetown's water distribution system¿including fire hydrants, valves, and meters¿is over 70 years old, and contains cast iron sections with leaded joints.

Shedd Aquarium, for its At-Risk Youth Mentoring Initiative: $600,000

Through Shedd's neighborhood initiative, community organizations in targeted disadvantaged neighborhoods are offered free aquarium field trips, special behind-the-scenes tours and interactive aquatic science workshops. A key component of Shedd's community outreach is stewardship projects that connect neighborhood residents to their local natural environment, instilling a sense of pride and inspiring difference-making in their local community. Shedd offers scholarships to economically disadvantaged students throughout the Chicagoland area.

Spark College, for real-time writers and captioning training project, $750,000

Funding would help train the technological workforce to provide captioning and Communications Access Real-time Translation (CART) services mandated by the 1996 Telecommunications Act to approximately 1,000,000 deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in Illinois. These funds will assist with continuing curriculum development, technology upgrades, promoting the program and scholarships. With this funding, Sparks will work to curb the shortage of captioners in the workforce and ensure that the highly skilled captioners necessary to meet the mandates will be available in the community and across the state.

Southern Illinois University, for the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center: $2,000,000

The National Corn to Ethanol research facility located in the research Park of Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, is the only full-scale corn to ethanol testing facility in the nation.

Southern Illinois University, for the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, $1,025,000

Funding would provide a permanent and stable source of revenue for the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIU, which was founded by former Senator Paul Simon. Federal funding will allow SIU to fulfill Senator Simon's dream for an endowment to support the institute's on-going policy agenda.

Southern Illinois University, for the School of Medicine Simmons Cooper Cancer Institute: $2,200,000

Funding will finish out the space allocated for research laboratories and provide fixed equipment for these labs within the new Simmons Cooper Cancer Institute.

Southern Illinois University, Purdue University, and University of Kentucky, for coal research: $5,000,000

The three universities are members of the Coal to Fuel Alliance that are researching the feasibility of clean coal gasification techniques for fuel technologies. The authorization for this research is in the 2005 Energy Policy Act.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), for the National Education, Science, and Critical Skills Capacity Building Initiative: $2,000,000

Building on this fund would expand the number of minority students entering the sciences, and increase opportunities for training and research. The TMCF will forge a partnership with the Department of Education, thereby building on the critical education and skills necessary to give opportunities for high education.

University of Illinois, College of Agriculture Consumer and Environmental Sciences, for the Center for Advanced Bioenergy Research: $1,000,000

The Center will create a facilitative structure for outreach, teaching and research efforts in areas related to bioenergy systems. Research at the Center will focus on the increased output of energy, based on renewable biological resources.

University of Illinois, College of Agriculture Consumer and Environmental Sciences, for the Illinois-Missouri Biotechnology Alliance: $3,000,000

The Alliance is a successful special competitive grants program, focused on biotechnology research on corn and soybeans produced and utilized in the Midwest, and operated jointly by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Missouri at Columbia, and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

University of Illinois, College of Agriculture Consumer and Environmental Sciences, for the Illinois Program for Integrated Sustainable Agriculture, $2,500,000

The Illinois Program for Integrated Sustainable Agriculture will support interdisciplinary research to develop an integrated livestock and corn-soybean production system that will conserve maximal quantities of nutrients within the system, minimize nutrient emissions to the environment, and extract other beneficial compounds, while maintaining producer profitability.

University of Illinois, College of Agriculture Consumer and Environmental Sciences, for the Soybean Disease Biotechnology Center : $2,000,000

The Soybean Disease Biotechnology Center is located within the National Soybean Research Laboratory (NSRL) at the University of Illinois and provides a first line of defense against major soybean diseases. Center researchers are working to identify and create new and improved mechanisms of disease tolerance and resistance to protect the soybean crop and increase profitability for farmers in Illinois.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Engineering, for Nanomedical Technologies: $3,000,000

Funding will be utilized to equip the new addition to the Micro and Nanoelectronics Laboratory in order to carry out advanced research in Nanomedical Technologies. Activities will include the discovery or invention of new nanoparticles for targeting and imaging cancer; how cells are affected by infectious diseases, and how to detect pathogens.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, to encourage further education in technical domains that can be cleared by the Defense Security Service: $2,000,000

Funding will assist in the establishment of Centers at The University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign and The Ohio State University to fund students to pursue graduate studies in the critical technology areas used by the Department of Defense. The technological developments and the training of technically-qualified U.S. Citizens to address research issues in these areas have not kept pace with the rapidly escalating difficulties of the problems solved.

University of Illinois, for the Urban Teaching and Leadership Center, $1,000,000

The Center will be established to reduce and eradicate the unacceptable achievement gap within the Chicago Public Schools. The Center will: redesign UIC school personnel preparation programs to focus on preparing educators uniquely equipped to turn around chronically low-performing schools; increase the number of candidates from underrepresented minority populations completing certification and degree requirements, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; and reverse the negative effects on student learning of persistent teacher turnover in high-need Chicago-are schools. The Center's purpose is to develop educators who can offer excellent, culturally responsive, and consistent instruction in struggling schools.

West Frankfort, IL, to support replacement of its Big Ditch Pumping Station: $550,000

The City's Big Ditch Pumping Station, which serves the Big Ditch Drainage System of West Frankfort, cannot adequately pump water during periods of significant waterfall to prevent flooding.

Wetlands Initiative of Illinois, to support its Illinois River Nutrient Farm Pilot Project: $11,810,000

This market-driven wetland restoration project, among other things, addresses nitrogen, phosphorous, and carbon pollution in national waters.

A pilot project, the Illinois River Nutrient Farming Pilot Project, is organized in highly disturbed backwater lake and wetland complexes (Goose Pond, Sawmill Pocket, Hennepin & Hopper Lakes) adjoining the Illinois River near Hennepin, Illinois.

Women's Sports Foundation, for its GoGirlGo! Chicago Initiative, $1,000,000

The GoGirlGo! Chicago Initiative is a mentoring, education and development program targeting at-risk teens to prevent drop-outs, truancy, crime, violence and drug abuse by promoting participation in sport and physical activity during after school hours when teens are at greatest risk for dysfunctional social behaviors. The GoGirlGo! Initiative is being carried out throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

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