Story Published:
Nov 11, 2008 at 1:21 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Nov 11, 2008 at 1:21 PM CDT
The state Legislature's annual fall session will start tomorrow without the Illinois House.
Most of the work normally handled in the fall was accomplished in a series of sessions over the summer as lawmakers clashed with Governor Rod Blagojevich.
So the House has canceled the first three days of its session.
However, the state Senate will meet this week.
State Senator Dan Rutherford says he would like to see where Governor Rod Blagojevich plans to spend money.
"In Illinois we have one of the highest unemployment rates in the entire Midwest. And in part I think it is because we are doing positive things to help job growth and development. The governor has said he is going to close the Pontiac Penitentiary close it down by December 31st. To close that will have a negative economic impact of 54 million dollars right here in Central Illinois. It will go all through the Central Illinois Corridor. It's not just Pontiac and Livingston County."
Rutherford says closing the state prison and state parks doesn't make sense at this time.
He says families are more likely to visit parks and historic locations close to home because they don't have money for longer vacations.
