Statement from Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich

CHICAGO - "I believe a tax on working families for transportation is a backdoor fare hike, and I believe the legislature was correct in rejecting that approach. For months I have urged the leadership in the House to consider alternatives, but unfortunately no progress has been made. Now, after the legislature's rejection of Speaker Madigan's tax increase, we are in early September without a resolution and the clock still ticking. This has never been a question of whether we should fund mass transit - that is essential. It is a question of how. I will continue to push to close corporate loopholes and to find other sources of revenue to help fund the CTA and RTA without raising taxes on people."