Illinois House transit funding plan gets pushback, including from Gov. Pritzker

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- A possible funding plan to prevent a fiscal cliff for mass transit across Illinois is facing some pushback, including from the governor.

The Illinois House version has a dramatically different revenue plan than the one that passed out of the Senate in the spring.

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The House version of the transit funding bill took a step forward Wednesday when it passed out of committee.

"From this revenue package. It's a mix of a lot of different things, a lot of new things that don't currently exist," said state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, assistant majority leader who represents northwest Chicago.

One of those includes a proposed 7% statewide amusement tax that impacts concerts like Lollapalooza as well as professional sporting events.

Tickets to those hosting more than 10,000 people would also be subject to a $5 surcharge, which does provide a free transit pass for the day.

There would also be a tax on streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.

"What we're finding is that most folks are choosing to stay home and and download videos, download movies, things like that. And so this would just be a broadening of what those amusements would include," Delgado said.

There's also a proposed tax on billionaires. It's something that Gov. JB Pritzker, one of 12 billionaires in the state, said is problematic and would be hard to implement.

"It's a tax on unrealized capital gains, never been done before, never been done before by any state, never been done by the federal government," Pritzker said.

Pritzker also said lawmakers should take a pause on the proposal to allow for the expansion of speed cameras outside of Chicago due to various problems, including corruption.

Labor unions are rallying behind the bill, which would protect transit workers from layoffs.

SEE ALSO: Illinois transit riders, workers could be affected by layoffs, reduced service to bridge budget gap

"It's too important to back off. We got to get this done. The time to talk is over. We have to get this finished," said Tim Drey, president of the Illinois American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

Republicans had a number of reservations, including the fact that while taxes across the state are going up, CTA will not have to increase fares to help with funding.

"What we have to do is balance it between taxpayers and the users of the system. And while everyone benefits, to have 75% being paid by those who are not even using the system and only 25% paid by those who do, I think is a bit unfair and a little disproportionate," said state Rep. Dan Ugaste, a Republican who represents the west suburbs.

Leading democrats expressed cautious optimism that the transit bill could pass out of the House in time for the Senate to take up the measure before the veto session ends Thursday. But if it runs into any significant hurdles, the bill could be derailed until next year.

Commuters were reacting Wednesday, as well.

"We need this; we need this," public transit rider Stacey Donnell said. "Chicago relies on public transportation."

Like so many other fellow commuters, Donnell says public transportation plays a critical role in her life, from getting to work, to seeing family.

"I'm right now without a vehicle; so, I also go and also see my son out in Elgin, and I take it a lot, all the time," Donnell said. "For $2.50 a ride, I fill up my bus pass. I'm good for the month."

Commuter Alex Rogers says she and her husband are without a car right now.

"We were in a car accident and our car was totally damaged," public transit user Alex Rogers said. "We decided to start taking public transportation, Metra, Pace, the Blue Line. And it just works."

Rogers says public transit is the most affordable option for her family; so possibly losing some service is a scary prospect.

"Right now, we don't want to buy a car because of how expensive everything is; so we're just going to have to work on our schedules and work from home a little bit more," Rogers said.