Blagojevich Tells Wealthy Seniors 'Hold your nose and take a bus for free'

The Chicago Tribune reports on welfare for the well to do:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich today offered a message to seniors skeptical of his plan to give them free transit cards: "just hold your nose and take a bus for free."

The governor's suggestion came as he sought to build support for his much-debated, last-minute idea to seniors give free bus and train rides as part of a package to fund the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace.

Blagojevich held a town hall-style meeting at a North Side retirement home. Microphone in hand, Blagojevich told them he was simply trying to "sweeten" a bill that includes a sales tax increase that he has long opposed but is now willing to go along with. The tax increase would fund beleaguered mass transit agencies and head off service cuts and fare increases set for Sunday.