First, sorry about another Rockford thread....but things keep happening. And to JB...who might read this, but promised not to respond to any more Rockford threads.....be assured that rail service to Rockford would also benefit Chicago. Hard to believe, Rockford benefitting Chicago in any way....but true. And to RockfordSoxFan (go Sox! btw), yep, it's another star article.
The reason I post these is that I really believe this should be news in Chicago, but the media there, being run by JB-types, ignores such stories.
Rockford delegation lobbies in capital
Larry Morrissey spends his first day as mayor pushing a transportation platform in D.C.
By CHUCK SWEENY, Rockford Register Star
WASHINGTON -- Larry Morrissey spent his first day as Rockford's chief executive stressing what he did during his campaign: roads, rivers and rails.
But Morrissey took his message outside of Rockford, joining a delegation of 130 Rockford area leaders Tuesday for a day of lobbying in the nation's capital.
Morrissey even buttonholed Sen. Barack Obama, a rising star in the Democratic Party, and had him spouting a favorite Morrissey-ism.
"I asked him what his priorities were and we talked about roads, rivers and rails," Obama said. "Our challenge is figuring out whether we get enough dollars in the transportation fund to take care of all the projects we'd like to do."
At 6:30 a.m., the delegation left Rockford on a chartered Hooters Air Boeing 737 and flew to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, about a half-hour train ride from Washington. The trip was sponsored by sponsored by Commonwealth Edison, AMCORE Bank and Rockford Health System. The Rockford Regional Chamber of Commerce, Greater Rockford Regional Airport, Rockford Convention and Visitors Bureau were hosts.
When the Amtrak airport shuttle arrived at Washington's Union Station, Morrissey hit the ground running, darting from meeting to meeting, starting with U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Egan, who discussed manufacturing, education and transportation issues with him.
Morrissey stressed the importance of his proposed "education and lifelong learning" czar to coordinate educational activity. Manzullo said Morrissey should make sure that person works to bridge the gap between what schools provide and what employers need.
"I know a company that wants to add a second shift but can't find workers that are trained," Manzullo said.
Morrissey, joined for much of the day by Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen and state Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, told Manzullo that although he supports the Northern Illinois Commuter Rail Initiative to bring Metra trains to Belvidere and Rockford, "we want to let you know it's going to be a priority to bring rail to our airport. The airport has to be the first stop."
Manzullo and Morrissey agreed that the Rockford area will have to fight hard to make commuter rail to Rockford's airport a priority with Metra, the Chicagoland commuter railroad.
"We know there's folks out there who would just as soon not see any growth at Rockford airport because they want to build an airport at Peotone," the mayor said.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich presented a formal plan for building a Peotone airport to the Federal Aviation Administration.
"Ultimately, we'll put forth a local, regionally controlled operating company to build the (rail) infrastructure," which has been estimated at $80 million, he said.
From Manzullo's office, Morrissey went to the House Committee on Education and Workforce, to brief staffers on Rockford's needs and hear about legislation.
Staffers told him that the government wants to streamline the various federal programs to create a one-stop structure for people who need job retraining.
Morrissey suggested that Uncle Sam allow people who still have jobs to get retrained, rather than make them wait until they're out of work.
After that 20 minute meeting, the mayor power-walked to the Capitol Hill Club, a noted Republican establishment, where the Rockford delegation had lunch.
At the luncheon, Manzullo urged constituents to put more pressure on U.S. lawmakers.
"One problem we have is that we don't hear enough from people we represent," the congressman said.
Morrissey told the group that "we're going to have a lot of work to do. But we can see today that the community is ready to get to work. We sold a plane out in short order."
After lunch, Morrissey and about 30 delegation members hiked for nearly an hour from Capitol Hill to 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, to talk with Undersecretary of Commerce for Manufacturing Al Frink.
The meeting was closed to reporters, as were later meetings with the staff of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, and Obama.
Interviewed later, Durbin said the discussions were fruitful.
"We talked about Metra, the (Rockford) airport and the future. And transportation is his major platform. I see eye to eye with him on that. So I told him, 'I look forward to working with you' and that's the way it will be," Durbin said.
The day's official events ended with an early evening reception in the Lyndon Johnson Room of the U.S. Capitol.
Obama was treated like a rock star when he walked into the reception.
"I didn't know that it was this big of a delegation. I was very very impressed," Obama said of the boisterous Rockford delegation.
Morrissey was upbeat after the trip.
"It's been a great day and and opportunity for me personally to meet the objectives I set out -- to meet with our congressman and U.S. senators," he said. "I let them to know I'm looking forward to working with them in a great relationship with the city of Rockford."> |
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