Senate joins House in passing transit bill

Now all the governor has to do is approve this bill and sign it into law. Assuming that he likes the language passed from both houses. I hear that a bill that would allow for standards that would allow some seniors to ride transit for free wasn't voted on in the house. From Crain's...

Illinois lawmakers approved Gov. Rod Blagojevich's changes to legislation that will prevent deep service cuts at Chicago-area transit systems, but not before angrily accusing the governor of playing political games.
The measure passed 61-47 Thursday in the House and 32-19 in the Senate. It now becomes law without going back to the governor's desk.

The plan increases sales taxes in the Chicago region to generate transit money. Without the aid, officials were set to slash bus and train routes, raise fares and lay off more than 2,000 employees.

Legislators approved the tax increase last week, but the Democratic governor used his amendatory veto to send the measure back to the General Assembly and demand senior citizens be given free rides on their local mass transit services.