Madigan throws legislative weight behind tax hike for mass transit
At the largest publicity push yet for transit tax hikes, supporters roped in heavyweight support as Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan unexpectedly took the stage today to urge the measure's approval.
"This is a good, sound piece of legislation. It should be enacted as soon as possible," said the Chicago Democrat in a brief, impromptu speech before a crowd of several hundred union workers, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities.
The comment made Madigan so far the only top lawmaker to openly support the legislation and call for its passage. Madigan was not on a list of expected attendees at the rally.
The measure would hike sales taxes in the Chicago area a quarter-cent to raise cash for the CTA, Metra and Pace and another quarter-cent for road and transit upgrades in the collar counties.
If approved, it will add 50 cents in tax to every $100 of spending on merchandize in the area. Some suburbs will have their overall sales tax nudged up near 10 percent, or $10 on every $100 tab.
The taxes will bring in enough cash to cover a $260 million shortfall in operations at the CTA, Metra and Pace, while providing enough extra money for upgrades and expansions.
Without the new tax dollars, the region's bus and rail system will see dramatically increasing fairs coupled with cuts in service, warn the heads of Metra, Pace and the CTA.
Transit officials and advocates have been pushing for the tax hikes for months, but have gotten little response from lawmakers. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has vowed to veto the legislation. He says he promised during his campaign to oppose any general tax increase.
At today's rally in front of the state's Thompson Center in downtown Chicago, Madigan called on the crowd to lobby lawmakers and Blagojevich.
"If you know the governor, talk to him, too," he said as laughter rolled through the audience, which was organized by supporters of the legislation.
Divisions between Madigan and the governor have been blamed for a weeks-long stall in approving a state budget and other funding plans for health care and education.
Madigan said later he wasn't sure he had the votes to pass the measure in the House.
Transit funding has largely remained on the legislative backburner this year, but the coming Sept. 16 fare hikes and service cuts at the CTA and Pace are prodding reaction from politicians. This afternoon's press conference was intended to jumpstart interest and put pressure on the governor to provide crucial backing.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, DuPage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom, Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke and more than a dozen lawmakers, union officials and other public officials were in attendance.
"It is a quality of life and an economic development issue,"ˆť Schillerstrom said. "We need it now."