Free Republic

Worried transit officials asked lawmakers to imagine a CTA train packed with inebriated, possibly irate fans after a Cubs night game, then consider the wisdom of adding gun-toting passengers to the potentially volatile mix. Or what if a thief grabbed a bus rider's iPhone — a not-uncommon crime — and an armed commuter tried to stop the criminal? Those scenarios were raised Friday by Chicago transit officials, who called on state legislators to prohibit anyone from carrying a weapon on buses and trains if a concealed-carry law is adopted in Illinois. Transit agencies across the state contend that allowing individuals...

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Holds Hearing on “Infrastructure Investment: Ensuring an Effective Economic Recovery Program“ At a hearing this morning, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee discussed how the stimulus bill would be used most effectively. The hearing, titled “Infrastructure Investment: Ensuring an Effective Economic Recovery Program,” featured as witnesses the Governor of Wisconsin, the New York State Commissioner of Transportation, and the Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Transit Authority. Each witness argued not only that states and municipalities would be able to distribute funds from the federal government quickly and effectively, but also that more money would...