Still split on transit tax as 'doomsday' approaches
SPRINGFIELD -- Both a looming transit meltdown and the suburban sales tax increase designed to avert it have put the political spotlight on area lawmakers who may well decide which scenario occurs.
The choice comes down to the lesser of two evils -- supporting higher taxes for the region or wearing the collar when bus and train routes are cut and fares hiked for those that remain.
Lawmakers whose territory includes swaths of suburban Cook County and easy access to the region's people movers tend to back the sales tax plan, saying the transit cuts coming this weekend could cripple the region's economy, further clog highways and set the system back years.
"There is no politically safe vote here. On a vote like this, you better do what you think is right and best for your constituents," said state Rep. Paul Froehlich, a Schaumburg Democrat. "In this case, most of my district is suburban Cook County, the tax increase is so small … that most people wouldn't notice it most likely."
The tax amounts to an added quarter for every $100 purchased. It would apply to Cook and the surrounding counties. Chicago also would impose a higher tax on real estate transfers.
The Illinois House recently voted down the same basic plan. But with the transit "doomsday" set for Sunday, lawmakers return to the Capitol today and House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, said there will be another vote and he predicted approval.
"I think you're going to find the suburban Republicans from Cook County are mostly going to vote for it," said state Rep. Rosemary Mulligan, a Des Plaines Republican. "I don't think it's a bad vote. If I get killed for it, I get killed for it."
But the farther one gets from Cook County, the more the opposition grows.
Venture out to McHenry or Kane counties and lawmakers see little need for their taxpayers to pay more, especially since large portions of those counties have little or no access to public transportation.
"I don't know how suburban Republicans or suburban Democrats can vote for this," said state Rep. Mike Tryon, a Crystal Lake Republican.
Mass transit is important, he said, but suburban officials have been similarly clamoring for years for added highway spending.
"Nobody's been listening to us," Tryon said.
Several other suburban lawmakers said they'd much rather see higher fares than higher taxes. "Absolutely," said state Rep. Tim Schmitz, a Batavia Republican.
And there are other factors at play.
In Lake County, state Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr., a Mundelein Republican, points out that county voters twice rejected tax increases to fund transportation. Given that history, he sees little reason to now raise those taxes from Springfield.
"My belief is my county has already spoken," Sullivan said.