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* 1:14 pm - That last thread was getting a bit unwieldy and buried, so here’s a new one with some fresh news. CTA union threatens job actions…
“We are about at wits’ end,” said Rick Harris, head of the CTA’s rail union, at a morning press conference in Chicago. “Maybe we have to show you exactly what a doomsday looks like. Maybe that is the signal that needs to be sent.” […]
…the seriousness of the CTA union’s threat of strike-like actions remains unclear. Under state law, transit unions are not allowed to strike, but local AFL-CIO president Dennis Gannon said unspecified “job action” could stifle the system.
And the RTA Chairman has opened the door to a fare hike…
“Responsible people have to act now before the end of the year,” said Jim Reilly, head of the Regional Transportation Authority, as he slammed his hands repeatedly on the podium. […]
Reilly said he wasn’t sure using casino money would be politically viable because it would mean downstate residents might end up footing the bill for Chicago area transit. However, he did open the door to a modest fare hike as part of the deal, a concession Republicans see as a bit of sugar to help the tax hikes go down.
* 1:55 pm - The Tribbies reported a little funny last night about the leaders meeting with Mayor Daley…
Meeting with the four legislative leaders and Mayor Richard Daley, Blagojevich hinted that legislative inaction was rooted in endless political sniping. The governor told reporters he opened the meeting by joking with Mayor Daley that “I’ll trade my legislature for his” after Daley’s City Council on Tuesday easily passed a sweeping tax increase package to increase city revenues.
But they didn’t provide the full quote. Here it is…
“We began the meeting by me trying to cut a deal with the mayor: Basically I’ll trade him my legislature for his, because his can vote for all kinds of onerous, terrible tax increases for people, and I’m trying to get mine to save the CTA.”
A bit different, don’t you think? Here’s the relevant audio clip…
* 2:02 pm - Reaction of Sen. Jeff Schoenberg to a federal judge’s blocking of the “moment of silence” law…
“Judge Gettleman has made the right call in questioning whether this unnecessary state mandate is constitutional. For teachers and their students, minutes in the classroom are like precious grains of sand, so we in the General Assembly should instead be concentrating our energies on providing greater investment and innovation into our schools rather than look for new ways to fix the ill-conceived ‘Moment of Silence’ mandate.”
Schoenberg also argued that the ambiguous new law has potential to jeopardize teachers and administrators who could be challenged by individuals or organized political advocacy groups who did not feel that they were sufficiently carrying out the new state classroom requirement, and failed to adequately protect students from overly enthusiastic teachers who might seek to emphasize prayer in their classrooms.
“The expression of faith plays a central role in the lives of many families in our communities and its intrinsic value in shaping our children’s value systems cannot be discounted. These intensely personal experiences should be realized in our homes and in our communities’ fine houses of worship, not in our public schools,” he said.
* 2:04 pm - Sen. Schoenberg was reacting to this news…
A federal judge today ordered the superintendent of the Illinois State Board of Education not to enforce a new state law mandating a moment of silence at the start of the school day, but stopped short of a statewide injunction.
U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman said his move was meant to preserve the status quo while a lawsuit against the law goes forward. The order today prevents the schools superintendent from issuing any directions or orders for the moment of silence to be held, but only Township High School District 214 in the northwest suburbs is under a preliminary injunction barring the moment from being held.
*** 3:18 pm *** Democratic state Rep. John Fritchey and GOP Rep. Roger Eddy have just introduced new legislation that could address many of the problems the federal judge has had with the state’s current moment of silence law.
HB 4180 changes the title of the law from the “Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act” to the “Student Silent Reflection Act.” It allows, rather than mandates, a teacher to conduct a brief period of silence at the opening of every school day. It removes language about “silent prayer” and leaves it up to individual pupils. Here’s the actual language striking out the old stuff and inserting the new…
The trouble they’re going to run into is it dilutes the original law, before it was even changed this year. The sponsors of the embattled law wanted to make things mandatory and they wanted the word “prayer” to remain in the statute (where it was before).
* 4:05 pm - It looks like they had a smaller meeting instead…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich did end up meeting with some top lawmakers about mass transit funding as service cuts and fare increases loom for Chicago-area commuters. […]
Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said later in an e-mail that the governor went ahead and met with Republican legislative leaders and Democratic Senate President Emil Jones.
*** 5:05 pm *** Hizzoner is getting a bit testy…
Mayor Daley today accused Republican legislative leaders of demanding unwarranted fare hikes and trying to make the CTA the “scapegoat” for their failure to agree on long-term funding for mass transit. […]
Daley said he walked out of a Wednesday transit summit called by Blagojevich — and refused to attend a second meeting that was scheduled for today but was abruptly canceled — because the primary focus was gambling, not transit.
“This is not all about casinos and gambling and poker machines and slot machines. . . . The highest priority is not about . . . who gets a casino or where the casino’s gonna be. The highest priority deals right now [with] people who use public transportation,” Daley said.
Pressed on why he refused to attend today’s follow-up meeting, Daley said, “My role is not to be the governor of the state of Illinois. That’s his role and not my role. . . . That’s their role to figure this out.”
Daley walked out of Wednesday’s summit at the Thompson Center, disgusted that he had been lured to the meeting in what a top mayoral aide later called a “classic bait-and-switch.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:07 pm
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The plan to fund transit with revenue from the gas tax along with, possibly, some federal revenue, which is supported by the Governor and 3 of the 4 leaders,in conjunction with the capitol/gaming bill is the only viable plan on the table at this time. The unions have been more than reasonable in their efforts and have a good reason to be angry. They should not sit still while the system goes down in flames because of the personality disorders of some of our elected officials. You want doomsday….you’ll get doomsday!
Comment by Bill Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 1:33 pm
The plan to fund transit with revenue from the gas tax along with, possibly, some federal revenue,
Where is this plan? The gas tax pays for roads now. How would we replace it? What federal revenue? Please supply a link.
Comment by Kuz Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 1:44 pm
there are two taxes on gas, at the pump — Road Fund tax, and sales tax. There is no requirement that the sales tax on gas, which goes up with increasing prices, be devoted to road projects, Kuz.
Comment by capitol view Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:18 pm
Let me get this straight. In the wake of this reconciliation (!) meeting, Rod first states that Madigan doesn’t want any proceeds from the casino going to African-Americans. Then he also jokes about the onerous, terrible tax increases Daley has imposed on Chicago, while implying that he, Rod, is the one more concerned about saving the CTA.
I have this right, right? I’m not hallucinating this? Could somebody please beam this guy back to Mars where he belongs?
Comment by ZC Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:23 pm
If the CTA workers go on strike, who will treat me in a rude and incompetent manner every day? Nothing like hanging on for life as a bus driver swears at passengers and runs red lights. What a great way to end a day.
Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:24 pm
“For teachers and their students, minutes in the classroom are like precious grains of sand”
I wonder where Jeff went to school.
Comment by Bill Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:31 pm
Well, BIll, I don’t agree on the gas tax thing. I’d like to know where Blago would intend to get money from special funds to replace what would be snatched to fill the hole. I’m sure you have no idea, nor do you care, but you should see the hoops some bottom line workers are having to go through just to purchase an everyday piece/part to maintain equipment. Budgets in some areas are so tight with threats of even additonal tightening.
Comment by Princeville Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:36 pm
Siphoning off gas tax revenues is not a good plan, its robbing peter to pay paul. We need a real solution. it is odd that the gov is pushing for capital improvments, but weants to steal money from the road fund that is supposed to help cover those costs. Add to that the Governors approval of half the cost of a brdige repair from the senate side, and his veto of covering the other half of the repair on the house side, and its clear where the real problem exists. Our Governor is insane. The Plan to steal money from a decidicated fund for road repairs is not real plan, its smoke and mirrors. The roads and bridges in IL are already in need of more repairs then we have money for in the road fund, making the roads and bridges worse to gain bragging rights is the opposit of a good idea or leadership, it is utter stupidity.
Its a good thing Madigan is keeping this stuff at bay, or we would all be in a lot worse shape.
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:37 pm
Can somebody please remind Schoenberg that he voted FOR the bill the first time it was up for a vote.
Comment by Reality Check Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:38 pm
Please fire any Mass Transit official/executive that wants to have a strike/blue monday/work slowdown. Oh and give them a ticket to France to join thir socialist brethren.
Comment by Just Asking Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:40 pm
You know Skeeter, their day at work is no piece of cake either. Having worked with the public everyday for 20 years myself, John Q Public can be a real pain.
Comment by Princeville Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:43 pm
@Capitol View - the point is that it isn’t free money.
Comment by Kuz Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:44 pm
Kuz, the point is that you were talking about a different tax.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:45 pm
Prince,
They don’t like their jobs?
Aawwwwwww. Sniff. Sniff.
That’s so sad.
Of course, if the works upsets them so much, maybe they should find a new line of work. There are are a ton of jobs out there where you can screw up on a regular basis, where you need limited skills to do the job at all, and where you get great pay and benefits. I encourage all those poor, troubled drivers to look at the job market and snatch up all those other opportunities, where people won’t be mean to them.
Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:52 pm
So, a rate fare increase and a regional gas tax increase won’t solve the problem?
Comment by Justice Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:54 pm
Yeah a strike or other “job action” would be a great idea. I bet some planned service disruptions instead of the all to frequent unplanned ones would make the public care about rude bus drivers and dirty buses that are supposidley cleaned everyday. Some layoffs and service cuts should be part of the deal to FIX the cta not to preserve its crap service we get now. I could live with a moderate increase in fares for an increase in profesionalism, on time service, clean buses and maybe a little security.
Comment by FED UP Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:01 pm
Hey there — somebody at 2:38 hijacked my handle. Back off, buster.
Comment by Reality Check Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:12 pm
Skeeter, last one before Rich smacks our hands for being off topic and needing to move on —-I owned my own resturant/catering service until I decided to give it up and ‘retire’ to raise grandkiddies–I never dropped so much as one drop of coffee on one soul, but with your attitude, you’ve of been the first . I learned to put the public mask on and ignore, now after 20 years, I’m free to do as I please.
Comment by Princeville Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:23 pm
yes, I know how to spell ‘restaurant’, can’t type worth a darn though.
Comment by Princeville Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:26 pm
Kudos to Fritchey and Eddy for ‘diluting’ the original law. Today’s ruling is a strong reminder that the original law was likely unconstitutional.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:27 pm
Prince,
Sorry for demanding that people who work for me be polite and competent. So rude of me. I deserve that coffee pour.
Prince, if you treated your customers like the CTA treats its customers, your business would have lasted about a day. No private business could ever get away with what the CTA does every day.
When the response to a CTA work slow down is “How can we tell the difference?” the union probably should reconsider its strategy.
Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:29 pm
Most CTA employees are hard working, courteous, caring public servants. The stuff that they have to put up with from riders and other drivers is unbelievable. It is not the employees who dirty up the buses it is the passengers. It is not the employees who eat, play loud music, spit, and do all types of other in appropriate things on the buses it is the passengers. Over 1/3 of the buses have average about 600,000 miles each. It is not the employees who use capitol funds for operating expenses and it is not the employees who have chronically underfunded their pension plans. Go Ahead and call them socialists and insult them if it makes you feel better. The problems with the CTA and Metra is the fault of the politicians like Daley and Madigan who have other priorities. Why does the city contribute less than $3 million out of a multi-billion dollar budget to Chicago mass transit?
I guess if the employees are so bad you all won’t miss them. Enjoy the walk Skeeter.
Comment by Bill Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:35 pm
Okay, Skeeter, you win, I never rode transit in Chicago area (handing Skeeter towl for coffee drops)–only public I ever rode was in Hamburg and they were so sickingly polite, well you get it.
Comment by Princeville Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:40 pm
Someone needs to tell these dimwit legislators (some whom allegedly have law degrees) that you can’t enact state laws that clearly violate the federal constitution. Even Blago didn’t go for this one, and he pushed that patently unconstitutional video game law. Then the numbskulls said it wasn’t about prayer even though prayer was in the TITLE of the statute. Doh! Now they think if they take the word prayer out it will be okay regardless of the fact that it’s the same law. They sure out their time to good use when the CTA, school funding, ethics and other matters languish. After all, students have been clamoring for this.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:42 pm
Hey Anon,
If you’re so smart, why don’t you explain to all of us how the proposed version is unconstitutional? (Hint - it’s not)
In fact, if we’re going to have a bill like this, this one is better than the one that was on the books to start with.
Neither one of them supported the law, and it looks to me like they are trying to make the best of a screwed up situation.
And do you really think that legislators shouldn’t do anything else while the Gov and leaders fight about mass transit and casinos?
And while we’re at it, are you really going to blame House members for the fact that Rod and Emil are blocking ethics legislation?
Sometimes the dimwit you’re looking for is right in the mirror.
Comment by Get Real Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:47 pm
Anon, take a deep breath before you post again. Nobody is interested in your half-informed, hyper reactive stuff.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:54 pm
Rich - this doesn’t look as much like a revised proposal as an “reversal” or “undoing” of the unconstitutional law.
Furthermore, it seems to actually improve the law that was on the books previously.
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:59 pm
“Improve” is in the eye of the beholder. How would you like to run in an election after taking the word “prayer” out of a state statute?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:01 pm
AMEN
Comment by Get Real Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:03 pm
Get Real,
The application of the revised Act would create Constitutional ambiguity. What happens if only Jewish teachers observe the since the “teacher in charge may conduct a brief period of silence” (emph. added). In other words, why will some teachers conduct the still-undefined ‘moment’ of silence while others may not?
The revisions are worse than the original, and not for the reasons Rich cites (that the original sponsors specifically wanted the language that is now removed to actually be in place) but because the revisions create even more ambiguity. This will inevitably lead to even more variation in application should the proposal become law.
Face it, mandating that a time be set aside in public schools amounts to an establishment of religion in those public schools. It may not be a specific religion (say, the Illinois State-Approved Church), but it is an establishment of all religions in publicly funded institutions.
Rep. Schoenberg’s comments are right on the money (no pun intended). We are all free to worship in whatever manner best fulfills our private faith needs, but since not every Illinoisan worships in the first place our state cannot mandate a time for prayer in public schools. In other words, because atheists are also paying taxes to pay for those schools, they shouldn’t be forced to also pay for prayer.
Much as I don’t like the plaintiff, Mr. Sherman, his (and his daughter’s) point in the lawsuit is valid.
Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:03 pm
Just to add on the Cross gas tax plan -
It seems obvious that the plan would be to divert all the sales tax on gas in the RTA region immediately to the RTA.
That way the RTA gets money in the bank right away, which meets the primary condition outlined in the Hamos letter. In fact, money would get to the RTA faster on this plan than under the sales tax /RETT increases, which would need time to be implemented. But this would be money dedicated to the RTA, and thus not subject to the appropriations process.
Then, it is understood that there would be a large gap in the state budget that would then need to be filled. There have been many ideas on how to fill that gap, with the current proposal being to fill it with some of the gaming revenues.
The impetus for this Cross plan seems to be the idea that other, more preferable, revenue sources were ruled out because they wouldn’t generate money right away directly to the RTA (casinos, for example), or that they wouldn’t provide a physically identifiable revenue stream (think corporate loopholes).
So it gives the RTA an identifiable revenue stream, that can be accessed right away, that will increase over time, and won’t be subject to the appropriations process. It meets all the conditions of the Hamos letter.
The State then does whatever it need to do to fill its new hole with revenues that don’t have to meet the Hamos conditions.
Sorry, that was longer than I thought it would be.
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:06 pm
Now that the kids have been ‘reflecting’ in their daily silence moment, I can also now see with the way it’s written above that some parent will object that their child wanted a moment today and her/his teacher did not want to conduct one—does not open up even more public howl?.
Comment by Princeville Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:07 pm
“How would you like to run in an election after taking the word “prayer” out of a state statute?”
Good point. Though I am sure the teachers’ unions/groups may have something to say about this over the next year as well.
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:08 pm
GoBearsss, the problem with the sales tax transfer to RTA is that it’s currently proposed as an annual appropriation. Not very reliable.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:08 pm
Rob,
To the extent that the law would again be permissive, it would be left to the school districts to decide what the best policy is for their schools.
By removing the references to prayer, the moment of silence becomes content neutral. If a teacher was to suggest that the time be used to pray, it would be in violation of the law.
I think that’s just how it should be.
Comment by Get Real Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:08 pm
I’m sure someone has pointed this out, but isn’t the legislature part of government supported by tax dollars?? Don’t both houses, when in session, start with a prayer???? ‘Splain the difference please.
Comment by ABolt243 Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:09 pm
CTA/RTA should demand that it be fixed, then. That all the gas sales taxes be dedicated in statute to the RTA.
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:10 pm
Gas tax transfer no good for the bonds so it is a no go on that point too
Anyone notice yesterday Blaggo tried to play the race card on Madigan and today keeps House Dems including Turner and Colvin out of his little club house. Is this guy on a full time losing streak or what.
Dumber Than You Think
If it walks like a duck…..
Comment by Mr W.T. Rush Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:13 pm
“‘Splain the difference please.”
1) No lawmaker has dared challenge that practice in Illinois.
2) Challenges in other states have met an unfavorable death at the supreme court.
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:14 pm
I’m guessing that a whole lot of people, religious or not, are okay with taking the word ‘prayer’ out of statutes.
Comment by Get Real Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:19 pm
Rich -
I think it would be fun to pit “Mr. W. T. Rush” against “Bill” in a throw down.
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:21 pm
ABolt243,
Are there atheists in the state lege?
And did you hear about the hoot and howl from arch-conservative Christians when a Muslim imam led the prayer on Capitol Hill a few months back?
The point is that schools will potentially have folks who do not wish to pray either attending them or paying taxes to support them (or both). What the lege does on its own time before sessions is its own business.
That’s more like sports teams starting or ending a game with a prayer. Not all the athletes (ie, the legislators) join the prayer and the fans in the stadium (ie, the taxpayers) are not forced to participate while it happens.
The law that was struck down forced all taxpayers (vis a vis their children, the students) to participate in a “brief period of silence … for silent prayer or for silent reflection…”.
–
Get Real,
There is even more ambiguity and that’s the point I’m trying to make.
Part of the judge’s ruling was based on the ambiguity in the current law (”brief period” is not defined, etc.).
This new wording opens teachers, schools and districts up for even more interpretation which will lead to even more variance in the application of the proposed, revised law.
Because of the proposed wording the moment of silence is now left up to each teacher and what you consider to have been made content-neutral is actually not. The teacher decides whether or not to conduct the “moment” which will lead to inevitable questioning of why some teachers decide to conduct it while others do not… Are they conducting the moment of silence in order to encourage prayer? Are they hoping students will silently recite passages from books of faith? Etc.
Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:21 pm
Madeline Murray O’Hair. It’s all her fault.
Comment by kimsch Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:29 pm
ABolt 243,
Excuse me, it was not a Muslim imam on Capitol Hill. It was a Hindu priest from Ohio that conservative Christian protesters rudely chanted against from the Senate Gallery.
The Muslim prayer issue happened in the Washington State House of Representatives as some GOP lawmakers walked out on the prayer.
It’s oddly hypocritical that it is conservatives who have a problem with these prayers being conducted before legislative bodies. It’s as if they don’t think there should be any faiths in America other than their own… which is precisely the danger in such legislation as the Student Prayer Act.
Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:31 pm
Rob,
I appreciate your point, but I’m not sure that I agree. Do you think that the problem is addressed by saying, for example, that the ‘moment’ shall be more than 30 seconds but less than 2 minutes? I’m asking seriously.
Comment by Get Real Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:34 pm
Rob N
For silent prayer OR for silent reflection. No mandate to pray, no forcing to pray. All the law did was change the option of a moment to a mandatory moment. Only ONE word was changed from the prior version.
In fact, I told my little boy (he’ll be 7 on Sunday) that he could either pray or imagine he’s Optimus Prime during the moment of silence.
Comment by kimsch Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:35 pm
I don’t think that there is a huge group of people who are pro-silence in general, lobbying for periods of silence in the workplace, the movie theater, the mall, etc. This is obviously a transparent attempt at getting around SCOTUS’ ban on prayer in public schools. It’s “reflection,” wink wink. I think leaving it up to the individual teacher makes it even less constitutional. It is arbitrary and at the whim of the particular teacher. If the teacher is a Bible thumper, everyone will be forced to “reflect.” The fact that the intention of this has always been poor disguised mandatory prayer is readily apparent to all but the most naive.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:38 pm
Again - my question remains.
If the bill is not about prayer, than why do its advocates care about it so much?
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:45 pm
There is no ban on prayer in public schools. Students are allowed to pray if they wish. They can also organize their own bible study groups in school. A child can give out candy canes with the Candy Cane story
The Supreme Court has found that students have a choice and student initiated prayer is lawful. All this Illinois statute does is mandate a time that a student can choose to use for prayer or not. As I said above, if my son wants to imagine he’s Optimus Prime or Bumblebee during that time, that’s fine with me. It’s his choice.
Comment by kimsch Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:45 pm
The students can pray at lunch or recess if they really want to. They can also pray the 17 and a half hours per day they are not in school and all weekend. Have you looked at public school achievement test results? This is total folly.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:53 pm
What state law says that transit workers cant strike?
Comment by Lotta Liaison Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:55 pm
Part of the MFT already goes to transit. It is part of the funding mechanisms for IDOT. If they want to take even more MFT for transit, why not raise the MFT? The State MFT is about $0.19 per gallon. It is time that the MFT was increased to keep up with the rising costs of highway and bridge maintenance, increased transit costs etc.
Comment by PE-PTOE Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 5:13 pm
Is no strike state law or instead in the union master contract?
Comment by Princeville Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 5:20 pm
Get Real,
That would seem to be one part of the judge’s issue with the law. The slippery slope comes when people start complaining they can’t recite the Lord’s Prayer or the Nicene Creed or whatever in X seconds.
–
Kimsch,
The difference is that the state is not mandating that students make time for prayer or dreaming about Optimus Prime when they choose to do it on their own.
And yes, students can gather in their own religious clubs after school hours (churches rent school auditoriums all the time and this is just like that). Again, students are doing this on their own private time and it is not mandated by the state. (Interesting sidenote: conservatives also complain about such religious clubs being in public schools — in addition to their complaints about prayers said before legislative sessions.)
Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 5:29 pm
PS: If students choose to have a few moments of silent reflection or silent prayer at the start of the school day they can choose to get to their first class a few moments early instead of gabbing in the hallway til the bell rings. Again, no need to mandate this.
(Where’d all the libertarians go…?)
Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 5:36 pm
Rich, has anyone looked at where the gas tax receipts come from the most, and where in the Cross plan they are spent? I would be very curious to see that.
Comment by I wonder Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 5:40 pm
I think it’s a provision of the collective bargaining agreement between the transit agency and the employees’ union, not state law.
Comment by Lotta Liaison Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 5:44 pm
Rob-
I’m with you. Sorry, it’s hard to get interested in this nonsense.
-token libertarian
Comment by Greg Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 5:46 pm
Did DAley really not know that the discussion at this point is about Casinos?
Did he think the Governor was going to invite him in to talk about a sales tax hike?
This all just seems to be more an effort to distance himself from the negotiations so he doesn’t bear any responsibility.
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 5:51 pm
Go Bearssss 4:06:
So it gives the RTA an identifiable revenue stream, that can be accessed right away, that will increase over time, and won’t be subject to the appropriations process. It meets all the conditions of the Hamos letter.
I was nodding until I got to the part about increasing over time. Sure, gasoline is likely to rise in price. The increase in plug-in hybrid cars, electric vehicles, more efficient gas and diesel cars, and (gasp!) people using more public transportation as its proponents would like to see, may put a damper on those kind of revenues in a few years. Not to mention the “peak oil” theorists’ warnings of a declining oil supply that can’t be increased at any price.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 5:58 pm
you still have population growth in cook and the collars.
I don’t see any situation where the sales tax on gasoline in cook and the collar counties would not increase over time.
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 6:00 pm
Here’s amendment No. 1 to Fritchey and Eddy’s bill. I think it solves everything:
Requires a moment at the start of every public school day during which students shall remain silent while a collection is taken to fund public transportation in the Chicago area. Effective immediately.
Comment by Frank Booth Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 6:05 pm
Lotta L –think you are correct, I know with AFSCME with our agreement it clearly states no strike during term of agreement, no work stoppages or slow down and goes on to say no officer or representative can authorize, institue, instigate, aid or condone any such activities. Didn’t transit strike back once before for like 5 days a number of years ago? I would assume between contracts.
Comment by Princeville Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 6:12 pm
Prince, it’s also in IPELRA that strikes and other job actions are unlawful before a number of specific conditions are met, such as contract expired, arbitration, etc.
Comment by no jd Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 6:14 pm
Isn’t the federal government looking at alternative ways to fund the highway trust fund (if it is continued, which is not guaranteed-devolution is something else to think about) because the gas tax is expected to be insufficient because of higher mileage cars and alternative fuels. We ought to pay attention to that. As we have experience, changing the way things are funded is so difficult, you have to be as forward-thinking as possible when you set it up. Not that our legislators haven’t had plenty of time to think about it…
Comment by NoGiftsPlease Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 6:44 pm
Right, but I think the only provision in IPELRA that may apply is whether the transit employees have bargained away their right to strike by agreeing to arbitration. I think the bargaining agreements between CTA and the ATUs says that all disputes shall be resolved by final and binding arb.
Comment by Lotta Liaison Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 7:42 pm
I frankly don’t care if the CTA goes down in flames. Let everyone in Chicago walk or drive or whatever. The politicos that run this state right now have one interest only - that is Chicago. Everybody always wants to know what Chicago gets out of any deal that is made in Springfield. Money being appropriated for something - how much does Chicago get? Who cares. As far as I’m concerned Chicago can fall into Lake Michigan. As a downstate taxpayer, I shouldn’t have to bail out the CTA. If what Bill says is true and the City of Chicago contributes so little to the CTA, then that is a disgrace. It’s Chicago’s transit system. Let them fund it. Let them pay for it.
Comment by RJW Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 8:13 pm
gas tax is one thing. Sales tax on motor fuels is another thing.
Two different taxes. One a fixed price per gallon, the other a percentage of the sale.
The fixed price per gallon tax the feds are worried about will be going down over time.
The percentage of the sale will just continue to go up, especially if gas prices continue to rise.
Comment by John Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 9:23 pm
I think that the CTA, like the Skyway asset, should be sold to the private sector or foreign investors. The sale proceeds could be used to improve public transportation and roads. The union and pension could be replaced.
Comment by Former rider Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 11:59 pm
Who are these people?
Yeah, I think we noticed the doomsday extensions.
Comment by Greg Friday, Nov 16, 07 @ 8:55 am
Pepperdine Alum, Northside Bunker, Another Democrat’s Love Fest, Willie Gomez are all sock puppets for the same person. Therefore, the comments were deleted and the person has been put on the banned list.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Nov 16, 07 @ 9:10 am