Last week, Gov. Pat Quinn said he told Chicago-area public transit officials he'd meet with them this week to discuss their precarious financial situation.
Instead, transit leaders were left to meet with Quinn's staff members as the governor flew to Washington today. Lawmakers ended their fall session last week without approving a plan to help the CTA, Metra and Pace avoid threatened fare increases and service cuts.
Quinn is scheduled to meet with Illinois' congressional delegation and lend his support to efforts to pass a measure that would provide grants to military members and their families.
On Wednesday, the governor will meet with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and other Illinois lawmakers to discuss high speed rail, transportation funding and other state priorities.
The governor then is scheduled to attend a news conference in support of legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, a Democrat from Geneva, that would establish the National Military Family Relief Fund Act. The proposal would allow taxpayers to contribute money to the fund through a check off on their federal income tax forms, which would be used to provide grants to military members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.
The proposal is based on similar program in Illinois that Quinn championed while lieutenant governor.
-- Monique Garcia
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