Free rides for seniors must end now
Illinois House members are now on record when it comes to free public transportation rides for seniors. The question is how should voters look at that record?
We believe they should be lauding the 18 legislators from the Daily Herald circulation area who voted to end this two-year perk perpetuated by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and seriously question the 11 who voted against it.
As the bill's sponsor, state Rep. Suzie Bassi, a Palatine Republican, told us, if they can't vote to end this unnecessary expense, what will they do when they get to the harder spending cuts?
The state is in financial crisis, yet we have politicians who are worried about the senior vote come November. That has to be the answer. And lest anyone think it is a partisan problem - Democrats and Republicans can be found in both camps.
But credit Bassi. Although she is a lame-duck representative, having lost the GOP primary in early February, she got her bill passed which still gives free rides to low-income seniors - the only ones who need it.
Regional Transportation Authority officials say the change in the law could save nearly $37 million annually.
The House vote comes at a time that Chicago-area mass transit agencies are instituting fare hikes, route cuts and layoffs.
And yet as Gov. Pat Quinn gets ready to propose a tax increase to help the state get out of its financial mess, he won't even get on board with this measure.
When asked Friday if he would sign the bill into law if it is approved by the Senate, he would only say that he doesn't think it will pass.
Hmmm. We wonder whether he and his Senate colleagues are worried about the votes of the 402,000 seniors who have registered for the free rides program.
Bassi's bill would allow free rides to continue for someone 65 or older making less than $27,610. For a household of two, the cut off would be $34,635 annually.
And, don't forget, all seniors get half-price fares no matter what.
Many seniors already see the folly of what Blagojevich did and we and other newspapers have quoted a good number saying they are just as happy to get the half-fare price.
"Even seniors understand that this is a fair way of dealing with a crisis," Bassi said.
As this bill moves to the Senate, we urge seniors and voters of any age to let your senator know that you expect them to make the tough choices to help get the state out of its financial troubles.
This is but one vote to prove they are serious about solving budget problems. And one vote to also help change the perception that cynical politics is the driving force behind every legislative vote.
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>How they voted</b></p>
<p class="factboxtext12col">In addition to Bassi, suburban Republicans voting "yes" include Mark H. Beaubien Jr. of Barrington Hills, Franco Coladipietro of Bloomingdale, Sandy Cole of Grayslake, Michael Connelly of Lisle, Tom Cross of Oswego, Mike Fortner of West Chicago, Kay Hatcher of Yorkville, Rosemary Mulligan of Des Plaines. JoAnn Osmond of Antioch, Sandra M. Pihos of Glen Ellyn, Randy Ramey of Carol Stream, Dennis Reboletti of Elmhurst, Timothy L. Schmitz of Batavia, Ed Sullivan Jr. of Mundelein and Michael Tryon of Crystal Lake. </p>
<p class="factboxtext12col">Democrats supporting the measure include Elaine Nekritz of Northbrook and Eddie Washington of Waukegan.</p>
<p class="factboxtext12col">Suburban Republicans voting "no" include Robert A. "Bob" Biggins of Elmhurst, Angelo "Skip" Saviano of Elmwood Park and Darlene Senger of Naperville. </p>
<p class="factboxtext12col">Suburban Democrats opposed to the change include Linda Chapa-LaVia of Aurora, Fred Crespo of Hoffman Estates, Keith Farnham of Elgin, Jack D. Franks of Woodstock, Paul Froehlich of Schaumburg, Emily McAsey of Lockport, Carol Sente of Vernon Hills and Mark Walker of Arlington Heights.</p>
<p class="factboxtext12col">Sidney H. Mathias, a Buffalo Grove Republican, did not vote.</p>