Downstate mass transit services have been hit hard by the Illinois budget stalemate. Lawmakers are now looking to remove them from the fight.
Downstate transit is funded in part through city and county sales taxes. Before that money can be spent, it passes through state government. That means transit agencies have to wait in a long line to get paid.
Illinois is more than $11 billion dollars behind.
State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is sponsoring legislation that essentially would pull downstate transit out of line, sending them tax money directly.
“…Because we have transit districts downstate that are under threat of closing," she said, "and we have people that can’t get to school, and jobs, and medical appointments."
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza warns that this would remove her discretion to say whether some other claim on state money should take priority over transit. The legislation already has passed the House, and now has to get through the Senate.
