 Downstate
transportation needs ignoredThe Chicago region will get the
millions it needs for its mass transit system, but downstate
Illinois continues to wait for a long-overdue infusion of capital
improvement funding for our roads and bridges.
A capital construction provision, which would benefit roads and
bridges throughout Illinois, was left out of a Chicago Transit
Authority bailout measure approved Jan. 10 by the Senate and House
of Representatives.
No one questions the importance of the mass transit system to
Chicago and the collar counties, but the rest of the state also has
transportation needs that must be addressed. Our state has not had a
comprehensive capital development program since Illinois FIRST in
1999.
House Bill 656 allows RTA officials to increase sales tax in
Chicago, Cook County and collar counties; allows CTA officials to
impose a real estate transfer tax rate in Chicago; allows Metra to
sell $1 billion in bonds for capital; and allows the CTA to sell $2
billion in back-loaded pension and health care bonds.
[to top of second column]
 |
 Blagojevich breaks "no tax increase" promise
After months of vowing to reject tax increases, the governor is
now saying he will sign the Chicago mass transit bailout measure,
which includes both a sales tax hike and a tax on home sales.
Blagojevich said he would break his "no tax increase" pledge if
House Bill 656 is changed to give senior citizens free bus and train
rides, regardless of income.
It should also be noted that the tax increases in this
legislation can be enacted without referendum.
Action finally taken to allow extra funding for schools
Lawmakers have accepted the governor's changes to
Senate Bill 783, a budget implementation bill that allows for
the long-awaited increases to school funding levels.
The new law gives schools a $400 increase in the school
foundation level from $5,334 to $5,734 per pupil.
The education funding increase was initially approved during the
summer overtime session; however, infighting among Democratic
legislative leaders delayed legislative action that would have
released the money to the school districts.
[Text from file received from
Sen.
Bill Brady] |
