Transits Agencies Spend Cash To Ask For Cash

By Staff in News on May 20, 2010 2:40PM

The four Chicago-area transit agencies - CTA, RTA, Metra, and Pace - spent a total of almost $1 million in taxpayer money for lobbying efforts in Springfield in the year between July 2, 2008 and June 30, 2009. According to the report, which comes from the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, here's how the spending broke down: CTA: $385,345; Metra: $264,504; RTA: $171,635; PACE: $132,000. The Tribune says that the CTA's bundle was, "the highest tab...among transit agencies and all 119 government bodies surveyed for lobbyist expenses." Reps for the agencies defended the amount, pointing out that they don't have "taxing authority" and rely primarily on public funds and fares.