Several downstate Illinois senators have an idea on how to save state parks and historic sites from closing this year: They want to sell one of the airplanes used by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Senate Bill 3066, introduced by Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Springfield, and co-sponsored by six other Republicans, would declare one of the four planes to be surplus property. The plane would be sold, with proceeds going into the State Parks Fund and the Parks and Conservation Fund.

The bill has been assigned to the rules committee.

In a news release, the sponsoring senators, including state Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon, said the four Beach King Air 350 planes at the governor's disposal are each valued at $2 million to $2.5 million. That's enough to keep the 11 parks open for a whole year, according to the release

In total, Illinois' air fleet includes 16 planes and helicopters, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s registration records.

Sen. Bivins said the bill may be amended to include the sale of a second plane, with proceeds keeping open 13 historic sites Gov. Blagojevich wants to close.

Gov. Blagojevich's press aide, Brian Williamsen, did not respond to an e-mail requesting comment.

Two western Illinois Democrats, state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-Moline, and Marty Mulcahey of Galena who's seeking the seat held by Sen. Bivins, said the bill is an obvious election-year ploy to embarrass the governor. Both, however, said the substance of the bill is worth considering.

"The governor has clearly abused the privilege" of using state planes, Mr. Mulcahey said. He noted, though, that getting rid of an airplane is not a long-term solution to the financial woes that led the governor to suggest the park closings.

"We need to be careful not to destroy the office of governor just because we don't like the current one," Sen. Jacobs said. "But if the governor lived in Springfield, he wouldn't need a plane so often."

The governor's habit of flying back and forth from Chicago to Springfield on a near-daily basis when the legislature's in session, rather than living in the governor's mansion, is a source of frequent criticism.

Sen. Jacobs said he may sign on as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 3066, even though he believes it's an attempt to drum up publicity for Sen. Bivins, who Senate Democrats are targeting as vulnerable.

Former state Sen. Todd Seiben retired early to enable Sen. Bivins to be appointed and run as an incumbent. Mr. Mulcahey is the son of Richard Mulcahey, who served 18 years in the state house from northwest Illinois.