Proposed site for STAR bonds development in the American Bottom Floodplain

In the final hours before his August 30th deadline for taking action, Governor Quinn issued an “amendatory veto” on the STAR Bonds Financing Act (Senate Bill 1909). The Bill sets up a mechanism for public financing of large commercial developments in blighted urban areas. Prairie Rivers Network, along with many of our partners (Sierra Club – Illinois Chapter and Kaskaskia Group, American Bottom Conservancy, Illinois Environmental Council), opposed the Bill throughout the 2009 Legislative Session because it includes the ludicrous provision that eligible projects must be at least partly located in floodplains. This provision is part of the Bill in order to target the taxpayer subsidy to a specific development, a mega- shopping mall and entertainment complex in and along the floodplain of the Mississippi River in Glen Carbon, IL (metro East St. Louis area). We are pleased that the Governor has requested lower subsidies than were proposed by Bill Sponsor Senator James Clayborne, of Belleville. However, we are disappointed that the issue of floodplain development has not been addressed.

A floodplain is a land area adjacent to a river, stream, or other water body that is subject to flooding. This area, if left undisturbed, stores excess rainwater during storms. If developed, floodwaters are displaced, leading to increased flooding elsewhere. According to State floodplain management officials, Illinois is one of the nation’s most flood-prone states, with flooding currently costing the State more than $250 million a year.

Preservation of floodplain areas reduces the number and severity of floods and minimizes water pollution. Floodplains frequently contain large tracts of wetlands that provide critical wildlife habitat, store and filter floodwaters, and help recharge underground drinking water supplies. Floodplains should remain undeveloped. This is especially important now when the state and local communities already face severe budget deficits and are ill-equipped to deal with costs associated with more flooding.

There are three possible outcomes for the Bill at the General Assembly’s October Veto session: (1) legislators may take no action (killing the bill), (2) they may adopt Quinn’s amendment (enacting the Bill as amended), or (3) they may override the amendment (enacting the Bill as originally proposed). While option 1 would be a win for the floodplain, we think that options 2 or 3 are more likely outcomes. In the run up to the Veto Session, we will be calling upon Governor Quinn and leaders in the Senate and House to show leadership and fix the irresponsible mandate the Bill provides for floodplain development across Illinois. We ask you to make your voice heard as well.

Contact Governor Quinn at 217/782-0244 or 312/814-2121 or at www.illinois.gov/GOV/. Let him know that you are disappointed that he did nothing to fix the irresponsible mandate for floodplain development in Senate Bill 1909, a mandate that goes against everything we know about wise floodplain management. Ask him, as a longtime champion of our rivers, to protect communities, the environment, and taxpayer dollars.

Contact the General Assembly members below. Ask them to show leadership in removing the irresponsible mandate for floodplain development contained in the STAR Bonds Bill.

Senator James Clayborne (Bill Sponsor) at 618/875-1212
Rep. Tom Holbrook (Bill Sponsor) at 618/394-2211
Senate President John Cullerton at 773/883-0770
House Speaker Michael Madigan at 773/581-8000
Your State Senator and Representative