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Jan 11, 2008 5:52 pm US/Central
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Blago's Senior CTA Decision Is First Step In Plan
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
After months of debate and disagreement, Illinois lawmakers have agreed on a way to fund public transportation. But Gov. Rod Blagojevich has thrown a wrench in those plans by agreeing to the bill, only if seniors, 65 and older, ride for free. CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports on more of Blagojevich's last minute decision.
Ideally, Gov. Rod Blagojevich says everyone should be able to ride public transportation for free. This is a first step that he defends taking and defends waiting until the last minute to do so.
"If the General Assembly acts on my changes, every senior citizen all over the state of Illinois can get on a bus for free," Blagojevich said.
Surrounded by seniors, Blagojevich was all smiles about his addition to the public transit funding bill.
"I'm very much for the idea; I really root for the idea," said Chicago senior Paul Scherer.
But that idea has likely left some legislators shaking their heads. On Thursday, lawmakers agreed to a sales and real estate transfer tax hike to keep the CTA and RTA running at full speed.
But instead of signing the bill with tax hikes he didn't want, Blagojevich added this last second component.
"It's like the little boy with a pile of horse manure, I kept digging cheerfully in that and found a pony in there -- the pony is free public transportation for all seniors in the state of Illinois," Blagojevich said.
The governor's addition means lawmakers now have to make a special trip to Springfield to pass the bill before the Jan. 20 doomsday deadline, at taxpayer's expense.
"Who's going to oppose giving free passes to anyone 66 and over? It's a good thing because a lot of them are on a fixed income, and a lot of them use it to get to and from, but it still should have been included in the bill," Mayor Richard Daley said.
Blagojevich says he waited to announce the free rides to avoid legislative haggling and hang-ups and he says this is just part one. In his February budget address, he'll propose offering free rides to the disabled, too.
"We have $58 billion to work with, to find maybe $25 million to be able to provide free rides for the disabled on public transportation. I think it's an easy choice if other legislators are willing to join me in finding the money," Blagojevich said.
A spokesperson in Senate President Emil Jones office said lawmakers weren't scheduled to be back in Springfield for a sesssion until mid-February. There's no indication Friday as to when they will be called back to discuss this bill.
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