Story URL: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=99675
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Four Illinois congressmen say no to new bailout bill

by Daniel Lambert
Oct 02, 2008


Four Illinois congressman who voted against the economic bailout bill say they are unlikely to change their votes when the new version passed by the Senate Wednesday night comes before the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Senate added additional provisions to the bill in the hopes of luring congressmen who voted against the initial bailout plan on Monday.

However, Rep. Donald A. Manzullo (R-Rockford), Rep. John Shimkus (R-Collinsville) and Rep. Timothy Johnson (R-Urbana) have concerns with the bill, spokesmen said. A spokesman for Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Belleville) said he would not vote in favor of the bill either.

The Illinois delegation split nine and nine on the original bill, with Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Morris) not voting.

Rich Carter, spokesman for Manzullo, said the congressman’s position is the same as it was before the Senate passed its version of the bill. “The premise remains the same. We’re bailing out Wall Street on the backs of the American family,” Carter said.

A similar sentiment was echoed by Shimkus’ office. A spokesman for Shimkus said the congressman was not in favor of the bill. In response to the Senate’s efforts to bring additional House members on board, he said “it’s like they’re trying to buy people.”

Johnson’s spokesman offered no comment on the Senate version of the bill, but did say that the congressman’s position remained the same as it was at the beginning of negotiations.

The notable Senate additions to the bill include renewable energy tax breaks, research and development tax breaks for businesses and a year of relief from the Alternative Minimum tax. The bill now also aims to increase federal deposit insurance from $100,000 to $250,000.

The Senate passed the bill 74-25. Both Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama voted in favor of the legislation. Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts was absent.

Spokesmen for Chicago Democrats Bobby Rush and Jesse Jackson Jr., both of whom voted against the original bill, had no comment.

The other 12 members of the delegation who voted on the original bill didn’t respond to requests for comment.