Nov 28, 2007 10:49 pm US/Central
Transit Funding Bill Fails In Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) ―
A plan to divert state tax money to the ailing Chicago-area mass transit systems failed Wednesday night in the Illinois House amid accusations of political gamesmanship.
Public transportation would have gotten a $440 million boost under the plan. Officials warn that train and bus service in the Chicago area will be cut sharply if aid isn't approved by early January.
The state aid would have come from revenue on gasoline sales taxes, essentially creating a $440 million hole in the budget. The plan's backers offered no proposals for filling that hole.
The bill failed 57-53. It needed 71 votes to pass.
Opponents claimed that House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, intended for the measure to fail. That would increase the chances of his preferred bail-out plan passing and perhaps make other leaders look bad, they argued.
"We're playing games and we're playing gotcha," said House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego. "All we do anymore is fight."
Gov. Rod Blagojevich said in a statement he was disappointed in the vote and would call lawmakers back into special session Thursday to consider both mass transit aid and a construction program.
"We can't afford any more delay," Blagojevich said. "The Legislature must keep working until they pass legislation that keeps the CTA, Metra and Pace (transit systems) running."
Even if the measure had passed, it faced a dim future.
Senate President Emil Jones said the measure was "doomed to fail" if it wasn't accompanied by an agreement on a statewide construction program.
Blagojevich called legislators into their 17th special session of the year to consider the bailout, which would follow two short-term aid packages already this year.
Chicago-area lawmakers are pushing hard for a solution to the mass transit problems, fearing backlash from angry voters if service cuts and layoffs planned for January are not stopped.
Downstate lawmakers, whose votes are needed to pass a mass transit aid package, want something for their constituents in exchange.
They're pushing hard for billions of dollars in new road, school and government construction projects. Those are on hold until leaders work out a massive gambling expansion plan to pay for them.
Blagojevich tried to put an optimistic spin on the situation, arguing that getting a transit package to the Senate should move negotiations along on both issues.
"If you want to look at the glass as half full, and I can't see how you wouldn't, this is a big step forward," Blagojevich said.
But Jones, his main legislative ally, said the Senate didn't have enough members in town to pass it this week. Even if everyone was present, it couldn't pass without a construction deal, he said.
Jones, Blagojevich and Republican leaders agreed both issues need to be resolved for either one to be successful.
But Madigan reiterated he wouldn't link the issues and said mass transit aid should pass on its own merits.
"I will not hold hostage transit riders for casinos," Madigan said. "I will not do that."
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