Illinois’ federal lawmakers and transit officials in have urged Congress to pass a long-term federal transportation funding bill before the May 31 deadline.
“My message to Congress is `Man up,’ ” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, (D-Ill.), said at a “Stand Up 4 Transportation” news conference at Chicago’s Union Station.
Durbin was supported by U.S. Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Bill Foster (D-Ill.) and U.S. Rep. Bob Dold (R-Ill.), in passing a long-term funding instead of temporary short-term solutions.
Lipinski pointed out that Congress has passed 11 short-term extensions to fund U.S. highway and transit needs over the past six years.
President Barack Obama has proposed spending $478 billion over the next six years to boost the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
The funding plan includes increasing the 18.4 cents per gallon federal fuel tax and a “repatriation” plan in which companies with overseas investments would bring back earnings to the U.S. at a 14 percent tax rate.
In Illinois, Gov. Bruce Rauner has proposed cutting almost $170 million from the region’s transit system.
