One of the bills still sitting unsigned on Gov. Pat Quinn's desk is HB 1091. The Public-Private Partnership for Transportation Act, if signed, would allow the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to enter into contracts with private entities, allowing the latter to build and operate roads, bridges, tollways, tunnels, bus systems, and high-speed rail operations in the state.
This unprecedented move would essentially allow private companies to have a major stake in new transportation infrastructure -- and gain dividends from the "partnerships" -- all while being exempt from taxes because, technically, the projects would fall under the umbrella of state property. Earlier this week, a group of activists met with legislators and aides of the governor to voice their concerns with the privatization of state property. While there, the anti-privatizers got some interesting news.
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