Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Macon) spoke with WAND TV about Illinois spending $96 million in gas taxes to finance MidAmerica Airport’s construction project of building a rail line between the airport and Mascoutah.
“I think it’s a wasteful project,” Caulkins said in his interview. “It’s not necessary.”
The line will stretch for five miles, with the project costing taxpayers roughly $20 million per mile.
“When you look at the $96 million to go five miles, what does that tell you about the cost of doing business in Illinois?” Caulkins said. “What we’re spending per mile to do infrastructure is outrageous.”
Caulkins posted the interview on his official Facebook page, referring to the decision as “irresponsible” and wishing the money be used to finance more of Illinois’ dire issues.
“This money should be spent to re-build the roads and bridges that have been neglected for the last 15-20 years,” Caulkins wrote.
Alerts Sign-up