Out of Control

State lawmakers in Illinois are holding hearings this week on privatizing the state's toll road system:

Last week, Gov. Rod Blagojevich suggested a sale or lease of the Illinois Lottery to put more money into the classroom. This week, a Senate committee will begin holding statewide hearings into privatizing Illinois' 274-miles of toll roads.

The deal could raise $14 billion for various state services ranging from repairing roads and bridges to shoring up the state's employee pension system.

"Through this innovative and increasingly common strategy, Illinois will undoubtedly be able to move forward to construct and rebuild roads and bridges and shore up our mass transit and passenger and freight systems," said state Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, D-Evanston, in a prepared statement. He will lead the hearings.

Full article here.