Gov. Rod Blagojevich has not been willing to endorse a sales tax increase which legislators have proposed to fund transit agencies in Chicago and its suburbs. In fact, the governor has said he would veto such a proposal. This struggle in Illinois over funding has been going on for at least a year.
Yesterday, the governor offered a proposal. I'll go along with sales tax but there's a catch. Give senior citizens free rides on local trains and buses.
Several cuts are in the works in Chicago Transit authority bus routes and fare hikes for both the CTA and suburban PACE. Metra's fees are scheduled to rise as well. All of this is now set for January 20th.
The sales tax package eventually will be worth $530 million through the increase of a quarter cent tax hike in Cook County and a half cent in the five collar counties. Some of the money would come from Chicago raising its real estate transfer tax....
House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones, powerful Chicago figures, have engaged in a power struggle with Blago over the funding - indeed, there's no love lost here. As a matter of fact, Madigan's office issued a snarky comment to the press. [The speaker] wanted to congratulate the govenor for breaking his promise not to raise taxes.
The Chicago Tribune reports this would be a first in the country, thugh Pennsylvania has an off hour plan. A Republican chimes in:
Christine Radogno (R Lemont) called the idea of giving seniors free rides ridiculous without establishing some income limits or other minimum qualificatons. She suggested the plan would allow a 66 year old partner in a prestigious law firm to ride free but require a fare from a working class mother struggling to get to work.
I was a struggling working class mother for many years - and I don't remember a Republican expressing outrage or holding out a hand to me.
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On a personal note, people who work in the city and take the CTA are always worried about severe cuts and rising fares, so this is nothing new. My son takes the bus and el to work every day as do several people I know, and this is held over our heads every other year or so.
I am delighted, being a senior, but - repeat but - I haven't seen the legislation. It is tied to pension and retiree health benefits and gives "sweeping power" to the RTA. Let's see what else is in this bill and because I'm a senior - I do believe the saying "there is no free lunch." Still - I am worried about PACE not running on weekends, for instance. I don't have a car and PACE is my transit route. These will be serious cuts. And though I am good for walking up to 2, 3 miles back and forth - I would like to be able to get into Oak Park via bus on Saturdays - for shopping and restaurants.
All quotes from Chicago Tribune.
Proposed cuts and fares: http://www.transitchicago.com/...