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Update: The transit bill has landed on Blago's desk! The Senate approved the sales-tax plan, and now all we need is Blagojevich's signature to save 81 bus routes, 2,400 jobs and all of our sanity. [ABC 7, S-T]
Another Update: The Governor now says he'll only sign the bill if legislators add free bus and train rides for senior citizens. Whiskey tango foxtrot. In the Gov's press release, he "says,"
I’m particularly concerned about seniors who live on fixed incomes and who don’t have the ability to absorb a higher sales tax without making cuts in other areas. That’s why I will rewrite the bill to allow all senior citizens in Illinois to take public transportation for free.
Now the bill's going back to the legislature.
How about another update: State Rep Julie Hamos, the bill's chief sponsor, apparently tried to get Blago to at least make his farkakte plan a separate "trailer" bill that could be passed later. But his aides said no.
And we still can't figure out why Blagojevich's proposal is just for senior citizens--and not, say, anyone below the poverty line, or even just seniors on fixed incomes. (According to the Illinois Department on Aging, there are over 40,00 people in Chicago over 65 living in poverty.) RTA executive director Steve Schlickman estimates the free rides will cost the CTA $20 million per year. [Crains]
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Anyone who gives a shit needs to call the gov's office and tell him to sign this thing.
217-782-0244
or
312-814-2121
"Gov Blagojevich, my friend, you need to sign this bill," Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago), the bill's chief Senate sponsor.
If Rickey "Hollywood" Hendon said that, well, that's practically like Emil Jones saying it.
You mean slurred and ineffective? Hay-oh! I'm here all week.
You mean slurred and ineffective?
More like Hendon is Jones's mouthpiece to the press. And Jones and Blagojevich have all kinds of side deals going on around this budget.
After Blago's "offer" to do "a lot of creative things... with the ability to rewrite legislation", and Emil Jones generously calling a vote on anything that makes it through the House, I'm (strangely) suspicious....
I just called the governor's office in Chicago to voice my opinion. The person on the other end of the line was quite pleasant and noted my recommendation. (My recommendation was, specifically, that Blago sign the bill on his desk, not that he buy his head a compass, a miner's hat, and a map of his ass.) However, I realized after I rang off the line that she didn't take my name or any other particulars. I assume she's so busy at this point that she's just making hash marks. "Yes, Governor, at last count, 9.5 million people think you're an idiot. Oh, and that pencil you gave me for Christmas is worn to a nub."
Unbelievable
Trib is now saying the gov won't pass the bill until they approve free bus and train rides to senior citizens.
Jackass
So now it has to go back. What a piece of shit. Enough with the games already.
Flood his office with phone calls, people. At least we can annoy his staffers.
He might be particularly concerned about seniors. I'm particularly concerned about not needing to take two buses and a train to work.
For crying out loud! A lot of them won't have buses to ride on at all if you don't sign the bill, jackass!
"For crying out loud! A lot of them won't have buses to ride on at all if you don't sign the bill, jackass!"
Or the ride will cost them nearly $4.00 one way.
I don't know what it's like to live on a fixed income. But is a quarter of a percentage point really going to make or break people?
No, of course not. Blagojevich just knows that the legislature can't possibly agree to that stipulation, and to the stupid, it makes the Governor look like he's fighting for the little guy.
Fucking douchebag. That isn't up tot he legislators. It's up to the RTA.
I'm all for egging his house in ravenswood.
This is all part of his political game.
So, this is what it feels like to be a fucking pawn.
Don't like it so far.
What's Blago's motivation for pulling all this shit then?
FINE! give free rides to seniors!! who gives a fuck. that's a cool thing. and you know what else is cool? being able to ride the division bus. the foster bus. the damen bus. the jackson bus. aaaah.
He knows if he signs a bill raising property taxes the senior citizens will crucify him, so at the last possible second, after 3 doomsday announcements in 3 months, he pulls this out of his blagojevich.
It's clear he's trying to salvage something that would allow him to declare it a victory for his policies, especially after publicly declaring he would veto a sales tax increase only to back away from that statement this morning. What he doesn't realize is that he doesn't have a good reputation to defend, he doesn't have a leg to stand on, and balls out free rides may slowly drain the RTA of funding in the long run leaving another doomsday 20 years down the road. It just boggles the mind.
I just called and told them to tell him to sign the bill in front of him and to quit jerking everyone around in the State of IL.
What mess of Gov and Human Being.
I can't wait until he gets indicted.
As a recent transplant to Chicago (and Illinois), I'd really like to know why this man was reelected? All I've seen/heard him do since moving here is nothing more than political posturing. Was the Republican gubernatorial candidate really that bad? Please help a confused Texan understand:)
Lots of coverage in this LJ entry (written by a dashing, handsome rich man who has ladies hanging off each arm).
Blagojevich ran on a platform of reform back in 2002. In the years since he's only made us long for the good ol' days of George Ryan.
danielbbailey: the preceding Republican incumbent is now serving about six years in jail.
Oh, the irony...
"But like, omigod, he's so cute and he's not a Republican like that ugly old Judy whatsherface. If we elect her she's sooooooo going to take away our right to like, have martinis and abortions and stuff. And that Rod guy is TOTALLY cute. Did I say that already?"
Goddamn.
I cannot wait until Blago gets perp walked. Public Official A motherfucker!
Hey Governor Haircut, I know you want to make it look like you give a shit about old people (you don't) but could you do it in a way that doesn't completely destroy mass transit in the region? Nah, just play brinksmanship with millions of people's lives and livelihoods.
When the first senior citizen ends up dead from a grabber because they had to walk 2 miles to a bus stop in January we'll see how caring Governor Asshat is.
Fucker!
Its always something with Blago, free rides for seniors. Blago is a joke. I hope he releases all the federal subeonas his administration has recieved as ordered by the judge but he will apeal this costing the taxpayers more money. Blago has spent 150k on this leagal fight that cant be won to keep the illinois voters in the dark about his corruption. How many seniors could ride the bus for that.
Blago makes me want to throw things. >=(
Maybe this isn't such a bad thing (disregarding the fact that he may have just triggered the doomsday button) -- doesn't it seem that a significant percentage of the people who take a long time paying their fares are seniors? So this might actually improve bus service.
$20 million a year in free rides! Jesus Christ! Unfuckingbelievable. This is why voter turnout is at an all time low, why people have lost all faith in their government. Fucking unreal.
"But what I will do is essentially take what I believe to be a lemon and turn it into lemonade. I’m going to sweeten the bill. I’m going to improve the bill.”
Could he be a bigger tool?
I wonder if the free rides are even constitutional under either the Illinois or US Constitutions as both require equal protection under the law & this discriminates against the non seniors, especially the poor & disabled ones.
And just think of all those seniors riding the trains in from Lake Forest, Glenview, Hillside & Riverside.
FOR FREE!
Like they need it!
Seniors already get reduced fairs on the CTA. This appears to be a total political stunt.
Who is up for making some noise outside his house. If press acounts are accurate that he spends all of his time in his house. We should go over to his house, and let him know how we feel. I think the message may not be getting through to him.