State legislature will be ringing in new year at dome

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday ordered lawmakers back to the Capitol on Jan. 2, effectively closing the door on a 2007 session marred by personality clashes and unfinished business.

When lawmakers return, they'll have a scant 18 days before a mass transit doomsday threatens to curtail transportation options for thousands of Chicago-area commuters. Bus and train fares will go up and numerous routes will be cut and employees laid off beginning Jan. 20 if state lawmaker can't agree on a nearly half-billion-dollar aid package.

Blagojevich had threatened to keep lawmakers at the Capitol until Christmas but never followed through and had been advised by legislative associates to wait until after the holidays or face the reality that few would show.

Now, after spending the entirety of 2007 waging internal political warfare, lawmakers will return on the second day of 2008 to see if there's newfound ability to compromise.

"Let's start the New Year on a great note by passing a long-term solution for mass transit. The citizens of Illinois are relying on us to get the job done," Blagojevich said in a letter.

The governor wants lawmakers to reconsider diverting the state's sales tax on gasoline in the suburbs and Chicago to the transit agencies. That money now goes to state coffers and funds projects and programs statewide. Downstate lawmakers balked at the idea before and helped vote it down.

Also previously rejected as a financial fix was raising the sales tax across the suburbs. That tax long has financed transit agencies. Chicago also would impose a new real estate transfer tax.

However, many opponents say they'll not consider any mass transit bailout until there's a deal to spend billions on construction statewide, a deal that would be financed by a massive gambling expansion.

All three -- transit, construction and gambling -- rely on each other, becoming an all-or-nothing proposition.

Previous attempts at a bailout came up short largely because the votes occurred after May 31 and by state law needed support from 60 percent of lawmakers to win approval. But with the new calendar come new rules, so proposals will need just a simple majority.

If previous votes hold true, the sales tax plan has enough support while the gas sales tax diversion still would be a few votes shy.

Blagojevich has said he'll veto the sales tax increase.