Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― The governor's surprise plan to let all seniors ride for free on public transit is drawing some harsh criticism.

Mayor Richard M. Daley is criticizing Gov. Rod Blagojevich for making the last-minute demand before he approves a bill to fund mass transit.

The deadline to get much-needed funding for Chicago area mass transit expires in exactly one week and we still don't have a solution in place.

Sunday, Blagojevich went to the House of Hope church on the south side to tout his plan in front of church members in support of it. Rev. James Meeks (15th) said he is in 100 percent agreement with him taking care of seniors.

Gov. Blagojevich made the proposal last Thursday after both the Illinois Senate and House approved a bill to fund mass transit. The state legislature barely passed the bill to fund mass transit with no votes to spare in the state Senate and only two more votes than needed in the House. The governor said he wanted to soften the blow of increased taxes to pay for mass transit.

The bill would increase sales taxes by .25 percent in the six county area and the real estate transfer tax in the City of Chicago. It will make Illinois the first state in America where all of our senior citizens can take a bus or train and not have to pay for it. 

Daley said that, in principle, he's not opposed to the idea of giving free rides to senior citizens on public trains and buses. 

"All of us support the needs of seniors," Daley said Saturday.

The problem has to do with the way the proposal came about.

"Why is this thrown in at the last minute? That's all I'm saying. Fine, I understand it; I mean, they wanted to give seniors without, you know, a free pass, fine. But again, why is it thrown in at the last minute? We've had all year discussing it," Daley said.

Daley is also concerned that the Illinois legislature won't find a way to fund the plan.

"How do you pay for it? You know, any politician can give things for free, but there's no such a thing as a free lunch," Daley said.

The mayor and other city officials are concerned that the governor's demand may kill the bill.

"All of a sudden, it's thrown in at the last minute – that's what you worry about, this bill has to pass," Daley said. 

Gov. Blagojevich is confident his changes will be approved. He says history's mavericks are always criticized.

"This is a first and anytime you come up with a first there's someone who finds something they don't like," Blagojevich said.

The governor then lashed out at the mayor for saying his free ride amendment could jeopardize or even scuttle a bill that lawmakers approved last week.

"Mayor Daley shouldn't be so pessimistic, maybe he needs to come to the House of Hope and have a little hope," Blagojevich said.

From the pulpit of the church, Illinois' governor took on Chicago's mayor suggesting that city hall policies have made life tougher for elderly citizens.

"It's hard to be a senior citizen in Chicago these days," Blagojevich said. "Costs are going up. The price of everything is going up. Mayor Daley just raised your property taxes."

He says seniors in Chicago need a break. 

"Why not give our seniors a chance to be able to ride the bus and to be able to ride a bus and take the subway for free. Why not help those who've done so much for us, in the autumn years of their lives not have to worry about fumbling for change when they get on a bus," Blagojevich said.

Now the mayor has never been one to back down from a fight.
So it's a pretty good bet that the rhetorical swordplay between the governor and the mayor will continue when the mayor in all liklihood, responds later this week.

As the two officials go back and forth, CTA consumers are still not convinced lawmakers will find funding. Riders have been hearing the threats to cut service and raise fares for months and the final doomsday is fast approaching.

"My real gut feeling, probably not," said rider Ruben Harris. "There's always something every two months."

"I think the legislation should give the CTA money, but they should manage better," said rider Julia Bninski. 

Officials have estimated that free rides for seniors would cost between $15 million and $30 million statewide. Daley said that already, people with disabilities are asking for the same benefits as well as students. 

CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli, Joanie Lum and Rafael Romo contributed to this report.

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