Bad legislation a disservice to all
Once again the massive egos in Springfield have done the citizens of our area a total disservice. I refer to the public transit funding passed on Jan. 17.
1. This "solution" only occurred after much political posturing and the creation of sequential crisis funding situations which finally reached the point where Band-Aid solutions were exhausted.
2. The last minute gambit of the governor to provide all seniors with free transportation in the RTA service area was dictatorial. Many seniors resent this as we are fully able to pay for our fares and do not wish to be a further burden on all tax payers. The reasonable alternative would have been to cover seniors and disabled of limited income/resources.
3. The funding for this will come from an increase in the sales tax throughout the RTA service area. An additional sales tax increase is given to five collar counties to use for transportation and public safety. This is a loophole through which one could drive a convoy.
4. Per my conversation with a local state representative, the RTA portion of the sales tax will apply to food and drugs. This has been largely avoided in the past. Does this open the door to a new precedent on taxing two of the critical necessities of life?
5. The sales tax is one of the most regressive taxes created by state and local government. It takes a disproportionate share of income from those on modest and low incomes. Its use as an additional funding source for any program is an unfair burden on those who can least afford it.
6. A "trailer" amendment to restrict the free transportation access to seniors of limited means passed the House. It was not called for a vote in the Senate at the direction of the Senate president. He justifies full access to all seniors by arguing McDonald's offers him a senior discount on his coffee without regard to income. He fails to acknowledge that he still has to pay a price for his coffee. It is not free. Neither should transportation be free to those who can pay the fare!
Will the next term of the legislature be able to address any of the above concerns? Highly unlikely as the reason for these concerns (super-sized egos) will not change until the voters speak at the polls.
Royce M. Blackwell
Elgin