Money, power behind driver requirement

Letter writer Barbara Bodnarchuk gave several valid points on the subject of why making seniors take road tests to renew their Illinois drivers licenses is illogical. But I’d like to add two reasons why the proposed legislation is most likely hung up in committee.

First, only seniors at or above the age of 80 must renew and pay the fee every year, or two depending on age. Others must only test periodically.

Whenever I go to a facility for testing, not always an easy thing to do, the majority of those there to take the test seem to be us seniors.

Therefore, that is a large number of renewal fees, perhaps 1/4th or more of the money taken in by the Secretary of State’s Office. In cash-strapped Illinois that is a lot of cash for some politicians to turn down.

Secondly, if the senior driving tests are eliminated that means perhaps 10% to 20% of the Secretary of States jobs could be eliminated. These state employees are most likely democratic voters and many politicians are loathe to reduce their voting bloc.

So there you have the reason for the senior testing to continue; money and power.

That’s what seems to run the politics in Illinois.

Lou Antonacci

Hampshire