By Mike Riopell, QC Times

SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Sen. Barack Obama released a list Thursday of the projects across Illinois he hopes the federal government will spend money on soon.

Ranging from a $10 million transportation center in downtown Normal to water facility improvements in southern Illinois, the Democrat is asking for millions in federal spending to be directed toward the state.

Federal lawmakers regularly ask for money for their pet projects through the “earmarks” process. But lately, some have come under fire as lawmakers from different regions accuse each other of wasteful spending while trying to win special money for their own areas.

That’s at least partly why Obama, who is a Democratic candidate for president, released the list.

“He believes all Americans have a right to know what he’s advocating for in Washington, whether it’s a road that needs repair, a civic education program or research into converting corn into ethanol,” Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt said.

Those comments come as Obama is scheduled to deliver a government reform speech today.

The list of 113 projects and more than $300 million is what Obama is asking for, but what the federal government actually pays for remains to be seen. The projects must be approved by Congress and President Bush.

Meanwhile, Democrat U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, the state’s senior senator, announced $6.65 million for Illinois projects that were approved by a Senate committee Wednesday.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or (217) 789-0865. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

BY THE NUMBERS

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama wants federal funding for the following projects in the Quad-Cities:

$10.5 million to better produce vehicle body armor at the Rock Island Arsenal.

$8 million to address congestion at the I-74 corridor in Moline.

$6.2 million to repair a Rock Island Arsenal roof to add manufacturing space.

$5 million to build a new maintenance facility for MetroLINK in Rock Island.

$3.8 million to build a railroad overpass in Morrison.

$3.5 million to renovate and expand the Rock Island Arsenal’s fire and police station.

$1.6 million to build River Tech Boulevard in Moline.

$1.35 million for the Rock Island Arsenal to develop lightweight metal technology.

$1 million to expand the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Rock Island.

$750,000 to replace two old water towers in Aledo.

$500,000 to improve the Sunset Marina Harbor entrance.

© Copyright 2007, The Quad-City Times, Davenport, IA