Senate Republicans have long
advocated for a capital bill to fund school construction programs, higher
education improvements, mass transit enhancements and road and bridge repairs,
noting that a viable capital plan is imperative to improving Illinois’ infrastructure, creating jobs and
jumpstarting the state’s lagging economy.
Although the General Assembly was
not in session during the week, senior citizens began receiving the benefit of
legislation approved earlier this year. Beginning March 17, persons 65 years
and older were able to ride public transit systems for free in many parts of
the state. State-mandated free rides for senior citizens on public transit
systems like the Chicago Transit Authority, Regional Transit Authority and
PACE, were included in a last-minute gubernatorial amendment to the mass
transit bailout proposal (HB 656) approved on Jan. 10.
Though free rides are good news for senior citizens, many lawmakers and media representatives
have been vocal critics of the Governor’s last-minute change, reminding
taxpayers there is no such thing as a free ride. Many lawmakers opposed the
sales tax and property transfer tax hikes that were linked to the mass transit
bailout, arguing that the increased taxes outweigh any savings from free rides.
A Belleville News-Democrat
editorial revealed that St. Clair County transit officials predict that free
rides on the Metro buses and MetroLink will cost taxpayers an additional
$250,000 annually.
The Regional Transit Authority, which serves the six county
region in metropolitan Chicago, reports that the free rides could cost the RTA
in the neighborhood of between $15 million to $30 million annually depending on
how many senior citizens take advantage of the free rides.
In other news, a group of
pharmacists in Illinois asked the Illinois Supreme Court
last week to reject a rule that requires them to fill prescriptions for women
seeking the controversial “morning after” contraceptive pill.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued the emergency contraception rule
in 2005 which prohibited pharmacies from refusing on moral grounds to fill
prescriptions for women seeking the “morning after” pill.
The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene in April.