Grandma and Grandpa can stop worrying about how they’re going to pay for the bus.
No matter what how much money they make, senior citizens can continue riding Chicago-area public transportation for free, thanks to an Illinois Senate panel, which upheld the "Free Rides for Seniors" program despite Republican push tie the benefit to income.
“It’s outrageous that in these tough economic times that we would allow anybody — CTA, RTA, the rest of them — to come and try to take this one… itty bitty little thing away from our dear, poor, struggling senior citizens at a time of economic crisis,” said Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago), reported the Sun-Times.
Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) created a plan passed by the House earlier this year only allowing certain seniors to ride for free based off their income.
Under her plan only seniors making under $27,610 a year, or a couple making under $36,635, would continue to be able to ride for free.
Six senators voted for Radogno’s bill, while seven voted against it. Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) was the only Democrat to side with Radogno.
“It was very emotional for some people, and I’m in favor of it,” Cullerton said, according to the Sun-Times.
