SPRINGFIELD - Labor leaders and lawmakers are fuming over the demise of a massive statewide construction program.

The $34 billion plan was approved by the Illinois Senate, but fell apart late Saturday in the House as the General Assembly wrapped up its spring legislative session.

On Monday, supporters said its failure will hurt people who need the construction jobs the plan would have created.

"I'm aggravated," said state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton. "This was really important for us down here. It's just a shame."

State Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, said laborers in his district are facing higher fuel and grocery prices and higher electric rates. And now, without the plan in place, he's not sure what they will do.

The plan would have put thousands of people to work building roads, bridges and schools. It was to be financed by leasing the state lottery and an expansion of gambling.

But, a lack of trust for Gov. Rod Blagojevich by Democrats in the House, combined with an opposition to gambling, helped put the brakes on the proposal in the Democrat-controlled House.

State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, was in the middle of the fight.

Earlier in the week, Bradley voted in support of a plan to lease the state lottery. On Saturday night, however, he voted against the concept, signaling doom for the overall construction package.

Later Saturday, even though his vote on the lottery lease had virtually killed the construction package, Bradley led the way for the defeat of the gambling expansion plan.

Bradley used a procedural maneuver to get members of the House on record as opposing a proposal that would have resulted in three new casinos.

Bradley said his anti-gambling stance was an act of conscience. In October 2005, he shepherded a bill through the House that called for casino gambling to be abolished.

"It shouldn't have surprised anybody," Bradley said. "I have to be true to my principles."

State Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said, "The House Democrats killed the capital construction bill by using a parliamentary trick. I don't think it's sunk in yet."

John E. Taylor, business manager for Laborer's International Union Local 773, based in Marion, said he is "distraught" over the outcome.

"I don't understand Mr. Bradley," Taylor said. "He is gambling with my members' livelihoods."

Phelps, whose district borders Bradley's, supported the gambling expansion, but refused to blame Bradley for its failure.

"I don't want to point fingers," Phelps said.

But, Phelps said, "You can be against gambling, but think about what the capital plan means to everyone else."

Forby blamed the downfall of the construction program on the feuding among the state's top Democrats, all of whom hail from Chicago.

"This is just another time that Chicago has screwed down south. And we had people down here help them," said Forby, who supported the package, including the gambling provisions.

State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, also blamed the bill's failure on the Madigan-Blagojevich feud.

"The speaker did everything he could not to run a bill," Mitchell said. "It's nauseating."

On Saturday, after the construction plan failed, Madigan said many lawmakers are unwilling to make tough votes.

"My position is there should be a construction program, but it's going to require some people to do something which is going to carry some pain. They're not going to be applauded when they vote for a fee increase or a tax increase," Madigan said.

Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865.