Blagojevich: I Will Sign Mass Transit Bailout, If Seniors Ride Free
CHICAGO (WBBM/AP) -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Thursday he'll sign a measure increasing Chicago-area sales taxes to pay for metropolitan mass transit systems, but only if the legislature approves free bus and train rides for senior citizens.
The governor said he plans to use his amendatory veto powers to require that senior citizens do not have to pay to ride public trains or buses in Illinois. The House and Senate would have to approve such a change and neither chamber is scheduled to return to Springfield anytime soon.
WBBM Newsradio 780's Melissa Hahn said Chicago Transit Authority President Ron Huberman and Regional Transportation Authority Chairman Jim Reilly were standing with the governor when he announced his plan and they said they support allowing seniors to ride for free and can enact the plan if approved.
Huberman said he hopes seniors will ride trains and buses even more, because that would ultimately help the economy if they go out more often to shop, adding more money to the area's sales tax base.
It's unclear if there is enough support in the legislature to approve the governor's plan, but sponsors of the mass transit funding bill said they support the governor's proposal and would reach out to fellow lawmakers to approve the changes.
The House adopted the transit funding measure 62-51 after the Senate approved it 30-25 earlier in the day.
Lawmakers abandoned demands that a transportation bailout be tied to a statewide construction program. Approval of the measure would avert extensive service cuts and fare hikes slated for the CTA and its suburban counterpart Jan. 20.
Blagojevich had opposed tax increases such as those in the bill and wanted to divert taxes on gasoline sales in the Chicago area to pay for mass transit. But he said he'll OK the measure in a "spirit of compromise" if lawmakers approve his changes.
After failing by one vote Wednesday, the Senate adopted the legislation Thursday. That sent the bill back to the House, where majority Democrats who developed the sales-tax plan approved it.
The bill increases sales and real estate taxes in the Chicago area by more than $500 million for the Regional Transportation Authority, which includes the CTA and the suburban PACE bus system.
Some lawmakers, particularly Republicans, wanted to tie a transit bailout with a statewide construction program, but "the clock ran out" on those hopes, said Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago. And without quality mass transit, Chicago can kiss hopes for a 2016 Olympics goodbye, he said.
"Chicago doesn't just lose. If the Olympics come here, we all win," Hendon said before the Senate vote. "If the Olympic committee sees that we don't have a world-class transit system, why come here? We all lose."
Sen. James Clayborne, a Belleville Democrat who did not vote for the legislation Wednesday, voted "yes." He said it was clear House Speaker Michael Madigan would not go for linking mass transit and a capital construction program and that the measure had money for buses running in his home turf of suburban St. Louis.
Blagojevich and lawmakers have been unable to agree on a capital program for five years. The latest idea is to expand legalized gambling to pay for one, but that politically volatile proposal will take time to work out.
"The chances of passing a capital bill with gambling as the revenue source are about as great as the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series in the next 10 years," Republican Senator Kirk Dillard of Naperville said in support of the bailout plan.
CrisisOasis Channel Does the economy have you feeling blue? Tune in here and relax to a never-ending stream of soothing sounds, confident that WBBM NewsRadio 780 is watching the economy and reporting to you 24 hours a day.
Face The Nation: CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer hosts "Face the Nation." Twenty three days and counting till Election Day. Doug Wilder, the Democratic Mayor of Richmond, Virginia; Colorado Governor Bill Ritter; Republican Congressman Adam Putnam of Florida; and one of John McCain's closest advisors, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.
Chicago's Reputation On The Run The Chicago Marathon Race director, Carey Pinkowski, says this is a good example of how Chicago could handle the Olympics.The 26.2-mile course starts in Grant Park near Buckingham Fountain, then heads to the North, West and South Sides before returning to Grant Park. A CBS Radio report.
Transit Hikes At Issue The Chicago Transit Authority may not be the only transportation agency planning to hike its fares. WBBM's Craig Dellimore reports. RTA Chairman Jim Reilly and CTA President Ron Huberman are the guests on WBBM NewRadio's At Issue program, heard tonight at 9:30.
Weis Attends Roll Call In a move to shore up morale among rank and file police officers, Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis attended a roll call for officers last night across the street from where a teenage girl was fatally shot a week ago on a CTA bus.
ADVERTISEMENT
Top News
UPDATE: Teen Who Made Up Palos Hills Rape Agrees To Community Service The teenager who perpetrated a fraud in an
accusation of abduction and rape has agreed to do community service as
penance, her attorney said.
T. J. Grinders owner Mark Holda endured public criticism in the days
following the girl’s accusation, as residents questioned why he had
allowed the girl to work alone at night.
Amtrak
With Amtrak there are no tolls, traffic or weather issues to deal with. Just big, comfortable seats and miles of breathtaking views and spend real quality time with family and friends. Call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL or click on our web link.
ACME Refining
Shred to the letter of the law... safely and securely.
WBBM-AM 780 has been the consistent all news radio voice in Chicagoland for over 35 years and is now streaming online for free. Listen online to Chicago news as it happens around the clock, along with Chicago traffic, Chicago weather, Chicago sports and Chicago business. Subscribe to WBBM's free podcasts for additional Chicago business and Chicago community reports and listen to Chicago news on demand. WBBM news radio is also the home for Chicago Bears, Chicago Auto Show and Chicago Air & Water Show. www.wbbm780.com
