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Illinois House Blocks Tax To Aid Mass Transit

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Sep 4, 2007 5:20 pm US/Central

Illinois House Blocks Tax To Aid Mass Transit

Fare Increases Planned For Sept. 16

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) ― A plan to raise taxes to help Chicago-area mass transit systems has failed in the Illinois House.

But supporters say they'll continue trying to build support. They hope to prevent fare increases and service cuts that are planned for Sept. 16.

The vote on the funding plan was 61-48. It needed 71 votes to pass.

The plan called for increasing sales taxes in Cook County and the five surrounding "collar" counties. It also would have raised a real estate tax in Chicago.

The new money would have been accompanied by reforms and management changes at the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra rail service and Pace bus service.

But some opponents said mass transit improvements should be part of a statewide construction program.

And Governor Rod Blagojevich objected to the measure's tax increase.

(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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