CHICAGO, IL – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) successfully prevented a new piece of legislation this week that would have eliminated the "Free Rides for Seniors" program. Under current law, the free rides program allows for senior citizens to receive free mass transit rides across the state. This measure was put into place nearly two years ago, but because of revenue shortfalls transit officials say that the program is costing them millions of dollars per year.

"I am aware that the recession hurt the tax revenues transit agencies rely on for funding, but we shouldn’t be taking away something that seniors have been relying on for almost two years," Senator Hunter said. "By repealing the free rides program, we will be turning our backs on senior citizens up and down the state."

The newly proposed measure, House Bill 1597, would align the free rides program with the current circuit breaker program by setting up a "means-test." This program only allows for seniors to qualify if their income is under $22,000 a year. The money generated by cutting the free rides program would be used to fund the Regional Transportation Authority’s (RTA) lack of revenue.

"The RTA must have more strict control over their budget management so that we do not cut vital programs that ensure seniors’ safety," Senator Hunter said. "We must come up with a better solution to produce revenue for programs and guarantee that we do not take anything away from our seniors as well as prevent future lay-offs to transit agencies."