BorgHunter
09-05-2007, 11:01 PM
Corruption, incompetence, short-sightedness, idiocy...where will it end, Springfield?
I'm voting against every state-level incumbent next year. Every single one. New jackasses can't be any worse than the current batch of dipshits. And Gov. Blagojevich makes me long for the days when I lived in Florida under Gov. Jeb Bush. Yes, he's that terrible.
Setback For Transit Funding Measure
Bob Roberts Reporting
CHICAGO (WBBM) - Potential fare hikes and service cuts drew one step closer Tuesday when the Illinois House failed to approve a bill that would provide additional operating subsidies to the CTA, Metra and Pace.
WBBM’s Bob Roberts has the story.
House Speaker Michael Madigan said quickly after Tuesday's vote that he try to find the 10 additional votes needed to approve the bill.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich applauded the vote, saying the regional tax sales and Chicago title transfer tax increases that are the centerpieces of the bill are the wrong way to go and would amount to a "back door fare hike."
"There has never been a question of whether we should fund mass transit. That is essential," Blagojevich said. "It is a question of how."
Blagojevich has advocated closing statewide business tax loopholes, an approach that both the bill's author and Madigan consider impractical. But Illinois Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), an ally of Blagojevich, has no plans to call the House bill even if it is approved.
There was emotional debate on both sides of the issue before the vote.
"We have brought it right to the cliff," said the bill's author, State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston). "Please don't jump into this abyss."
The 61-48 majority would have been enough to pass the bill, had it been done before May 31. But the requirement for a three-fifths supermajority left supporters 10 votes short.
House Republicans withheld crucial votes, seeking resolution first of terms of a new state infrastructure program.
Mass transit would benefit from an infrastructure plan, as would school, roads, highways and bridges. And some Republicans, including Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake), said the funding bill is lacking in a number of ways.
"This will not fix the (CTA) Blue Line. This will not fix the Purple Line. This will not fix the Brown Line, where they have to go six miles an hour," Tryon said. "Each of the service providers testified that this will only maintain the services and in Metra's $1 billion of bonding, it will only fund what is currently on the books."
Hamos immediately moved to postpone consideration, a move that allows her to call it again for a vote.
Transit officials say they're disappointed and will continue to work for passage.
"Without the much-needed state funding, the CTA will be forced to move ahead with the proposed fare increases and service cuts in less than two weeks," said CTA President Ron Huberman. "This is not the result we wanted."
RTA Chairman Jim Reilly said he considers the vote a setback, "temporarily."
Reilly said he remains hopeful that the legislature can reach agreement before the Sept. 16 contingency implementation dates for the CTA and Pace.
"The bill got caught up in a situation that is pretty much out of our control," said Pace spokesperson Judi Kulm.
Organized labor has lobbied alongside transit officials for the bill, and Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon said, "We've come too far to get to this point."
Gannon said riders "expect" lawmakers to pass the legislation before Sept. 15.
CTA intends to drop 39 bus routes and raise cash fares to $2.50, with a base fare of $3 to ride the "L" during the morning and afternoon rush.
Pace would begin phasing in its contingencies Sept. 16 by raising the fares charged on local lines in Waukegan, Elgin and Aurora, and on 65 rush-hour routes that primarily feed Metra stations, to $1.50. Paratransit fares would become $3 regionwide, and Pace would stop accepting monthly passes and CTA one-ride tickets.
Pace service cuts would begin taking effect on Sept. 29, when Pace would eliminate 23 underperforming bus routes. More widespread service cuts would occur in December, when the 65 remaining feeder routes would be eliminated, and in January, when Pace weekend service would be halted.
Metra elected to postpone $60 million in capital projects to balance its 2007 budget. But it is threatening to begin regular 10 percent fare hikes Feb. 1, coupled to new schedules that would decimate service on weekends and after 9 p.m. on weeknights.
http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/902303.php?contentType=4&contentId=878952
I'm voting against every state-level incumbent next year. Every single one. New jackasses can't be any worse than the current batch of dipshits. And Gov. Blagojevich makes me long for the days when I lived in Florida under Gov. Jeb Bush. Yes, he's that terrible.
Setback For Transit Funding Measure
Bob Roberts Reporting
CHICAGO (WBBM) - Potential fare hikes and service cuts drew one step closer Tuesday when the Illinois House failed to approve a bill that would provide additional operating subsidies to the CTA, Metra and Pace.
WBBM’s Bob Roberts has the story.
House Speaker Michael Madigan said quickly after Tuesday's vote that he try to find the 10 additional votes needed to approve the bill.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich applauded the vote, saying the regional tax sales and Chicago title transfer tax increases that are the centerpieces of the bill are the wrong way to go and would amount to a "back door fare hike."
"There has never been a question of whether we should fund mass transit. That is essential," Blagojevich said. "It is a question of how."
Blagojevich has advocated closing statewide business tax loopholes, an approach that both the bill's author and Madigan consider impractical. But Illinois Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), an ally of Blagojevich, has no plans to call the House bill even if it is approved.
There was emotional debate on both sides of the issue before the vote.
"We have brought it right to the cliff," said the bill's author, State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston). "Please don't jump into this abyss."
The 61-48 majority would have been enough to pass the bill, had it been done before May 31. But the requirement for a three-fifths supermajority left supporters 10 votes short.
House Republicans withheld crucial votes, seeking resolution first of terms of a new state infrastructure program.
Mass transit would benefit from an infrastructure plan, as would school, roads, highways and bridges. And some Republicans, including Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake), said the funding bill is lacking in a number of ways.
"This will not fix the (CTA) Blue Line. This will not fix the Purple Line. This will not fix the Brown Line, where they have to go six miles an hour," Tryon said. "Each of the service providers testified that this will only maintain the services and in Metra's $1 billion of bonding, it will only fund what is currently on the books."
Hamos immediately moved to postpone consideration, a move that allows her to call it again for a vote.
Transit officials say they're disappointed and will continue to work for passage.
"Without the much-needed state funding, the CTA will be forced to move ahead with the proposed fare increases and service cuts in less than two weeks," said CTA President Ron Huberman. "This is not the result we wanted."
RTA Chairman Jim Reilly said he considers the vote a setback, "temporarily."
Reilly said he remains hopeful that the legislature can reach agreement before the Sept. 16 contingency implementation dates for the CTA and Pace.
"The bill got caught up in a situation that is pretty much out of our control," said Pace spokesperson Judi Kulm.
Organized labor has lobbied alongside transit officials for the bill, and Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon said, "We've come too far to get to this point."
Gannon said riders "expect" lawmakers to pass the legislation before Sept. 15.
CTA intends to drop 39 bus routes and raise cash fares to $2.50, with a base fare of $3 to ride the "L" during the morning and afternoon rush.
Pace would begin phasing in its contingencies Sept. 16 by raising the fares charged on local lines in Waukegan, Elgin and Aurora, and on 65 rush-hour routes that primarily feed Metra stations, to $1.50. Paratransit fares would become $3 regionwide, and Pace would stop accepting monthly passes and CTA one-ride tickets.
Pace service cuts would begin taking effect on Sept. 29, when Pace would eliminate 23 underperforming bus routes. More widespread service cuts would occur in December, when the 65 remaining feeder routes would be eliminated, and in January, when Pace weekend service would be halted.
Metra elected to postpone $60 million in capital projects to balance its 2007 budget. But it is threatening to begin regular 10 percent fare hikes Feb. 1, coupled to new schedules that would decimate service on weekends and after 9 p.m. on weeknights.
http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/902303.php?contentType=4&contentId=878952