Less than two weeks before the latest “doomsday” deadline for the Chicago Transit Authority, a House Republican bailout plan funded by a cigarette tax hike and vehicle title fee increase went nowhere Wednesday.
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-Chicago) questioned the political feasibility of asking Downstate lawmakers to raise taxes to save Chicago mass transit, while he also continued to publicly turn thumbs down at House Republican leader Tom Cross’ desire to tie CTA help to gambling expansion for a public works program.
“I have and I will talk with Rep. Cross and others regarding casino legislation, but I’m not going to hold hostage transit riders for casinos,” Madigan said Wednesday after a three-hour meeting with Cross and other lawmakers.
Though the transit plan backed by Madigan would rely on small sales tax increases in the metro area, Cross said he would prefer to help the system by diverting $300 million in revenues generated by the sales tax on gasoline. Cross said those funds could be replaced by increasing the fees on automobile titles and fund sweeps of other agencies to eliminate unnecessary spending. Cross also suggested fare increases.
Cross said the meeting “was probably one of the best meetings we’ve had. And we’re getting closer, I think, at least conceptually, on capital.”
State Rep. Bob Molaro (D-Chicago) said meetings will continue this weekend after major progress was made toward finding common ground on a public works program paid for by a Chicago casino and additional gaming positions at existing casinos.
Madigan said he will ask House members to return to Springfield next week to vote again on the mass-transit package. CTA officials have threatened to eliminate 39 bus routes if new state funding is not approved by Nov. 4, with additional service cuts in January for both the CTA and Pace, the suburban bus agency, if the funding stalemate isn’t concluded this year.
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