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Dear Members of the General Assembly:
I am calling the General Assembly into special session next
Wednesday, November 28, to pass a long-term funding plan for the CTA
and RTA. With the holidays and the next transit "doomsday" fast
approaching, we cannot afford more delays. Transit riders who use
the CTA, Metra and Pace to get to work and school are relying on
you.
We have discussed several options for funding mass transit. As I
have stated before, I support the concept suggested by House
Minority Leader Tom Cross, reflected in legislation sponsored by
Rep. Skip Saviano, that would redirect revenue from the existing
sales tax on gasoline in Cook and the collar counties to the RTA. It
does not raise taxes, it redirects them. That’s revenue that is
already collected from drivers who contribute to congested roads and
air pollution in our region. It makes sense to dedicate that revenue
to mass transit, and it also helps reduce congestion and air
pollution. The revenue could be replaced by closing corporate
loopholes that do not benefit the public. I am open to other ideas
so long as it is not another tax increase on people, but one thing
is clear: the opportunity to act is quickly passing. The holidays
and new year are fast approaching. Whatever agreement can be reached
must be reached soon.
Throughout a record-long legislative session that lasted well
into the summer, lawmakers failed to address the funding needs of
the CTA, Metra and Pace. When I called a special session on the
issue in August, a majority of legislators did not show up and the
session adjourned without any action.
When the House of Representatives did reconvene to address the
issue on September 4, a proposal to raise the sales tax to fund mass
transit failed. Republican and downstate lawmakers in both chambers
of the General Assembly objected to the tax increase and stated that
they would not support a funding plan for Chicago-area transit
agencies unless the transportation and infrastructure needs in their
communities were also addressed.
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 On September 12, four days before the CTA’s first "doomsday," I
advanced the RTA, CTA and Pace $78 million to avoid their planned
service cuts, layoffs and fare hikes, and to give lawmakers more
time to work through their issues. In the subsequent seven weeks,
the legislature still did not reach agreement on a long-term funding
solution.
Again on November 2, just two days before the second transit
"doomsday," I provided the CTA and Pace with $27 million in
additional funding to maintain operations through the end of the
year without harming riders or cutting jobs. At that time,
legislative leaders expressed in a letter to RTA officials that they
were only seven to ten days away from final agreement on a long-term
funding plan. That was seventeen days ago, and lawmakers still have
not passed legislation to meet the needs of the CTA, Metra and Pace.
The transit agencies have indicated that a third, more severe
"doomsday" is looming in January. The transit unions have said that
if there is no funding resolution by the end of the year, their
contract will be in jeopardy. We cannot let history repeat itself.
There are not funds available for me to once again unilaterally
avoid a "doomsday" for mass transit riders in the Chicago area. The
General Assembly must take action soon. That is why I am calling you
into special session after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving and the opportunity to gather with family
and friends.
Sincerely,
Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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