Harmon on Why Senate Called the "Doomed" Transit Bill
Senate President Don Harmon
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After the Senate passed a controversial Chicago-area mass transit funding bill late Saturday night, one House source texted “it’s doomed over here, not sure why they would even send it.”
But a few minutes before, around 11:25 p.m. Saturday night, there were plenty of raised eyebrows when Senate sponsor Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) called the bill in the first place.
The bill had been skewered on social media and by suburban leaders. The bill included a $1.50 surcharge on deliveries around the state, which had earned the bill the nickname “Pizza Tax” or “Amazon Tax” among opponents. DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy, a former Democratic State Representative, said an earlier version of the bill was “stealing” millions in funding from DuPage County residents.
So why call a bill that appeared dead on arrival in the House that could leave Democratic members exposed politically?
We asked Senate President Don Harmon Sunday shortly after he appeared at a news conference with Governor JB Pritzker.
“Our members wanted to make sure that they did something to protect all the people in their neighborhoods who rely on public transportation,” Harmon said. “We were hopeful that the time would allow the House to take it up, and that Senate passage might spur action in the House.”
The House never called the bill before adjourning around 1:30 Sunday morning.
Harmon said he wasn’t surprised at what he called “hyperpartisan” opposition to the bill, even though some of the loudest voices against were from inside his own party.
“Unfortunately, throughout the course of this debate, there were too many stakeholders who were more concerned about protecting or expanding their power and getting somebody else to pay for it,” he said. “Public transportation is a public asset and we have to find some [way] to pay for it. We're not pretending we have all the answers, but for all of the bluster and all the criticism, nobody else put forward a plan to pay for public transportation.”
Without an agreement and transportation officials claiming layoffs and service cuts are looming, Harmon says lawmakers will continue to try to find a deal.
Conversations continue in earnest. Obviously, there was real engagement on the House side. They're working group, to their credit, was working very closely with Senator Villivalam and our Transportation Committee,” Harmon said. “I would say the differences between the two were marginal, albeit important. I think the fate of the public transportation system in Illinois and the larger economy depend on us finding some way to invest in the 21st century public transportation system.”
