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Free bus rides for seniors may be changing some votes

Posted January 16, 2008 10:00 pm

Doug Finke

Some central Illinois lawmakers who voted against a Chicago-area mass transit funding bill last week may have changed their minds now that free bus rides for seniors have been added.

Legislators are being called back to Springfield today to accept or reject Gov. Rod Blagojevich's call for the free rides. He made that a condition for accepting a transit funding bill that calls for a small sales tax increase in Chicago and suburban areas served by the regional mass transit systems. Blagojevich campaigned for re-election on a platform that opposed any increase in the state income or sales tax.

The change Blagojevich made to the mass transit bill may be winning some converts.

"I probably would vote for it," said Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, who voted against House Bill 656 last week.

Bomke said Wednesday he still has concerns about the way the free rides will work, such as an apparent prohibition against seniors from Springfield being able to ride mass transit for free in Chicago. He also thinks there may be later legislation to limit the free passes to lower-income seniors.

Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, said he thought the transit bill was a good deal even without free rides because it would pump another $2 million into the Peoria mass transit system. He voted against the bill, though, as part of a coalition of downstate Senate Democrats who felt they could win approval of a public works construction program by withholding their votes for mass transit.

"I was conflicted the last time we voted. The bill is a good bill for downstate," Koehler said. "My inclination is to support it (now). I won't make a firm commitment until I've talked to other Democrats."

Also thinking of changing his "no" vote is Sen. John Sullivan of Rushville, leader of the downstate Senate Democrat coalition.

"I think our opportunity to do capital was last week," Sullivan said. "To me, this is a different issue. Everybody is going to have to make their own decision on it."

For Sullivan, the decision will partly hinge on how much the free rides will cost the three mass transit systems in his district. He was still trying to compile those numbers Wednesday.

Not everyone is convinced the free rides are a good idea.

"I don't see me voting for that," said Rep. Rich Brauer, R-Petersburg, who thinks free rides should be limited to needy seniors.

Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria, was more emphatic.

"I can't wait to vote 'no,'" Leitch said. "This is just another (Blagojevich) stunt. The problem we were supposed to solve was the insolvency of the Regional Transportation Authority. To respond to that emergency and then blow a $30 million hole in it doesn't make sense."

The free service is estimated to cost more $30 million in the Chicago area, although the financial impact on downstate systems is minimal.

Lawmakers are under pressure to approve Blagojevich's changes to avoid significant fare increases and service cuts to Chicago-area mass transit systems, scheduled to take effect Saturday. If they do not approve the changes, the bill that provides extra funding to those systems will die.

Doug Finke can be reached at (217) 788-1527.

State lawmakers return to Springfield today

Why? To consider changes recommended by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to a Chicago-area mass transit funding bill. He wants seniors to get free rides on public buses statewide.

If they approve? The mass transit systems will get a badly needed influx of cash to avert service cuts and fare increases. Downstate systems will also get additional money.

If they reject? The bill providing the extra money will die, and a new one will have to be crafted.

What will happen? House Speaker Michael Madigan predicts the changes will be OK'd.

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