SPRINGFIELD - Lawmakers could again this week consider a construction plan that could fix roads and schools and provide thousands of jobs, but most say its prospects remain a long shot.

Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard and former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert again pushed for the $34 billion public works proposal Tuesday.

Lawmakers, scheduled to arrive in Springfield today, say they expect votes but not necessarily success.

"I'm not overly optimistic," said state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington.

Hastert and Poshard argued that the state could lose federal money if a state roads plan isn't approved before Congress passes a new federal one. But Congress was several years late on its last roads plan, so it's unclear how long Illinois' money is safe.

Still, Hastert urged, as many have, that the state's top leaders quit arguing and get some work done.

"People don't understand political vendettas," Hastert said. "They want their money."

Gov. Rod Blagojevich asked lawmakers to return to Springfield to consider ways to raise money for a state budget that he says is $2 billion off the mark. The state has been operating without a budget for more than a week.

Today, the Illinois House plans to hear testimony in a large, committee-style meeting, the same process that preceded the failure of a Blagojevich tax plan last year.

"It puts the facts on the table for everyone to see," state Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, said of the process.

Blagojevich has threatened to make wide cuts to the state budget by Thursday if lawmakers don't act, with slashing that originally included massive reductions in Illinois' Amtrak service.

State Rep. Patrick Verschoore, D-Milan, said Blagojevich's threatened cutbacks could cause big problems, so it might be tough for the governor to follow through.

"But, you know, he's said a lot of things in the past," Verschoore said. "I don't know what he'll do."

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or 789-0865.