As good as certainty, by "Six O'Clock News" tomorrow, Illinois will have a new Governor. By the constitution, such will be Lt Gov. Patrick Quinn; also a Democrat but be assured no "pal" of the incumbent.
Allow me to editorialize; even though I am a holder of a Seniors Ride Free pass (age 68; reside in DuPage County), I would like to see this program repealed at first opportunity.
In its present form, it quite simply is discriminatory and further has presented the Regional Transit Authority with an unfunded $30M annual revenue shortfall. Suffice to say, the RTA is "broke', but what else is new.
First the program is available only to residents of the six counties served by the RTA. If you are from out of area but otherwise eligible, "sorry Charlie". There are no "litmus' tests to establish need, as noted I reside in "the land of the Burlingtons"; what likelihood is there that I or too many of my fellow DuPage residents have "need"?
If we the people of Illinois desire to offer free mass transit to certain Illinois residents, we have an existing program called Circuit Breaker. In order to be a participant in this program, a resident must establish "need". The guideline is age 65 and somewhere around $20K or less of annual income and financial assets of $5000. Existing benefits range anywhere from a free Driver's License to free pharmaceuticals. Free mass transit regardless of where one resides within the State could be incorporated as a benefit of the program.
If such were enacted, a needy person residing in, say, Decatur or East St Louis would benefit.
In closing, I admit I am a passholder; I simply cannot look a gift horse in the mouth. But if the existing program is to be repealed, I'll surrender my pass without any hard feelings whatever, in fact it will be with pleasure.
Allow me to editorialize; even though I am a holder of a Seniors Ride Free pass (age 68; reside in DuPage County), I would like to see this program repealed at first opportunity.
In its present form, it quite simply is discriminatory and further has presented the Regional Transit Authority with an unfunded $30M annual revenue shortfall. Suffice to say, the RTA is "broke', but what else is new.
First the program is available only to residents of the six counties served by the RTA. If you are from out of area but otherwise eligible, "sorry Charlie". There are no "litmus' tests to establish need, as noted I reside in "the land of the Burlingtons"; what likelihood is there that I or too many of my fellow DuPage residents have "need"?
If we the people of Illinois desire to offer free mass transit to certain Illinois residents, we have an existing program called Circuit Breaker. In order to be a participant in this program, a resident must establish "need". The guideline is age 65 and somewhere around $20K or less of annual income and financial assets of $5000. Existing benefits range anywhere from a free Driver's License to free pharmaceuticals. Free mass transit regardless of where one resides within the State could be incorporated as a benefit of the program.
If such were enacted, a needy person residing in, say, Decatur or East St Louis would benefit.
In closing, I admit I am a passholder; I simply cannot look a gift horse in the mouth. But if the existing program is to be repealed, I'll surrender my pass without any hard feelings whatever, in fact it will be with pleasure.