Potent Quotables From The Transit Crisis

By Margaret Lyons in News on Jan 18, 2008 6:51PM

The transit crisis has been averted--and let's raise our lunchtime glasses to toast that miracle, shall we? cheers--but it brought out some of the weirdest and worst in our local politicians. These are some of our favorite lines from the entire, oh, what should we call it, bill-capade?

"Today democracy is dead in Illinois." -- Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago

"If the governor is unable to play with his toys, we will take his toys away from him." -- Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago

"When I go to McDonald's to get my cup of coffee . . . I get a senior discount. They don't ask me how much money I make." -- Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago

"We should have been managing a transit system, not down here fighting for our lives." -- Steve Schlickman, executive director of the Regional Transportation Authority

"What this General Assembly giveth, this General Assembly can taketh back." -- Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan

"It's like the little boy with a pile of horse manure, I kept digging cheerfully in that and found a pony in there -- the pony is free public transportation for all seniors in the state of Illinois." -- Governor Rod Blagojevich, scat enthusiast [Trib, CBS 2, CBS 2, Trib]