The cost of a long-sought Illinois construction program has increased from $25 billion to $31 billion.
The increase raises the question of whether the plan, spearheaded by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard, will come to fruition.
Financing for the plan, which the three unveiled at a May 20 press conference, would bypass raising taxes in favor of a massive expansion of gambling and leasing a portion of the state lottery. Lawmakers have not shown support for either idea.