Earlier this month in Washington, the House and Senate reconciled two versions of an omnibus spending bill and agreed to appropriate $2.5 billion for high-speed rail next year. While transit advocates were hoping for $4 billion, they were still thrilled by Congress' new commitment to the project.  For instance, Environmental Law & Policy Center executive director Howard Learner said it would "put people back to work and help ensure the future health of our planet."

Combined with the $8 billion in grants that will be distributed in the coming weeks (thanks to the economic stimulus package), the Department of Transportation will now be able to distribute $10.5 billion in transit funding next year. Gov. Pat Quinn and seven other Midwestern governors had previously requested $3.5 billion, $550 million of which would be spent in Illinois. In a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood this week, Sen. Dick Durbin and the entire Illinois congressional delegation reiterated their support for the state's grant application, suggesting that the money will have the  "greatest impact in Illinois":

We believe high speed rail funding will have the greatest impact in Illinois, home to the nation’s largest rail system.  As you consider states’ applications for funding, we encourage you to make a significant investment in Illinois during the first round of high speed rail awards. We recognize there is a strong demand for new and expanded service for intercity high speed passenger rail throughout the country, but we believe the rail corridors in Illinois provide the best opportunity to develop a regionally integrated, nationally significant high speed rail system.

There are a few things worth noting about this letter. The most obvious is that all 19 congressmen attached their names as signatories. Previously, Rep. Aaron Schock had falsely characterized the high-speed rail investment as "$9 billion in there for Harry Reid’s train in his district." And just this summer, Reps. Mark Kirk and Peter Roskam voted in favor of an amendment that would have stripped the high-speed rail money from the omnibus bill entirely. Apparently, these Republicans now agree that, as long as the money is going out, it might as well come to the Land of  Lincoln.

The Illinois GOP delegation's enthusiastic support also stands in stark contrast with the skepticism expressed by numerous Republican gubernatorial candidates earlier this week. As we reported, four of the six candidates present at the Springfield debate stated outright that they opposed state funding for rail expansion while a fifth -- State Sen. Kirk Dillard -- appeared apprehensive about the cost of the project.

So it seems altogether likely that we may have a GOP governor candidate next year who stands in opposition to a policy supported by the entire congressional delegation.

Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user cck.