Reversing Course, Governor Proposes Supporting Wine Industry

(Springfield-AP) -Monday, April 12, 2004, 12:20 p.m.- Governor Rod Blagojevich has reversed course and now supports spending state money to help the Illinois wine industry. Last year, Blagojevich objected to the 500-thousand dollars a year the state was spending to promote wineries. His administration said the state couldn't afford it.

But the governor's latest budget proposal includes 300-thousand dollars for the wine industry. Blagojevich has said visits to southern Illinois helped show him that the state's small wine industry has potential to create jobs.

Oklahoma Wine News