By Angela Hatton
Springfield, IL – The Illinois Senate is nearing a vote on a massive public works program that would be supported by higher liquor taxes and more gambling. The Senate could vote today on pieces of a construction plan that could total $26 billion and support hundreds of thousands of jobs. About twelve million of that sum the state would borrow. Paying off the debt could require legalizing video poker, raising license plate and driver's license fees, increasing liquor taxes, and more. The governor and legislative leaders met twice Tuesday to fine tune the plan they will present to lawmakers.