Deering Appalled After Governor Signs Downstate Bailout of Chicago Mass Transit

DECATUR, IL… State Representative Regan Deering (R-Decatur) released the following statement after Governor Pritzker signed SB 2111 into law today, which uses downstate funds to bail out Chicago's mismanaged mass transit system.

"Only in Illinois do Democrats take a solvable problem and turn it into massive tax hikes on Illinois families," began Rep. Deering. "This legislation was rushed, turning a $230 million shortfall into a $2.5 billion solution. In order to pay for the City of Chicago's mess, Illinoisans will see taxes and tolls raised. It's unfair to downstate Illinoisans whose tax dollars are diverted to bail out yet another mess created by Chicago's perpetual mismanagement."

The new law diverts $1 billion from Illinois' road fund, followed by an additional $473 million annually from downstate roads and bridges, to fund Chicagoland mass transit. In addition to the fund sweeps, the measure raises tolls by 60% for passenger vehicles and 30% for commercial vehicles and takes a percentage from the motor fuel tax.

"Not only is this unnecessarily expensive, but it raids the road fund and uses downstate tax dollars to bail out a system many of my constituents will never use," continued Rep. Deering. "With the fund sweeps up to Chicago, I am worried that my district and so many others in downstate Illinois will not get the promised and needed road construction and maintenance. Thanks to Chicago's failures, now this is every Illinoisan's problem."