Rep. Kam Buckner
Top Categories
A signature achievement: With Pritzker’s Hancock, Illinois’ groundbreaking transit reform/funding bill is a done deal.
Like many Prairie State politicians and transit officials, workers, riders, and advocates, I was overjoyed after state public transportation legislation surprisingly passed in the wee hours of October 31, aka The Halloween Miracle.
December 16, 2025
NITA celebrate? Hailing a historic win: the Northern Illinois Transit Authority and $1.5B in funding to save and upgrade service
New York City dominated the headlines today after electing Zohran Mamdani as mayor. But it wasn't the only big U.S. city that's made history in the past week.
November 5, 2025
“Trib-splaining”: Lawmakers, CTAction clap back against yet another naysaying Tribune editorial about the transit reform/funding bill
On Halloween, a Crain's editorial did a fine job of summing up the stressful, but ultimately successful, legislative process that led to the Illinois General Assembly passing a robust transit reform/funding bill earlier that morning. "A long night yields long-overdue action on transit" is definitely the best op-ed I've seen on the topic in the mainstream press since last Friday.
November 4, 2025
In the early hours of Halloween, Illinois General Assembly passed $1.5B transit bill that’s anything but horrific. Pritzker will likely sign it.
Update Friday 10/31/25, 9:00 AM: It was scary when the Illinois General Assembly floor debate over transit legislation entered the Halloween witching hours. But thankfully it looks like we've avoided a "Nightmare on Second Street" (the roadway where the state capitol is located). Here are some features of the new legislation that passed with $1.5 billion for public transportation, raised without statewide taxes, which I gleaned from a report by Capitol News Illinois and a summary by Capitol Fax.
October 29, 2025
What is the future of Illinois transit governance and funding? We asked California Psychics
"Let's go upstairs and read my tarot cards"
September 27, 2025
A transit fiscal cliff town hall double-header: Wicker Park and Uptown
At the Truman College event, Sen. Mike Simmons and Sen Ram Villivalam disputed claims about the transit bill from Republican senators.
September 24, 2025
Illinois House Majority Leader Eva-Dina Delgado thinks Springfield can solve the transit fiscal crisis during six days in October
Read Streetsblog recent interview with Rep. Kam Buckner about efforts avert the transit fiscal cliff here.
August 20, 2025
Enter the Capitol (2 chambers): Has perfection been the enemy of the good in passing transit bill? Buckner says no, citing Wu-Tang Clan.
Check out Wednesday's interview with House Speaker Welch about transit funding here.
August 7, 2025
State Sen. Ram Villivalam: Here’s how we can stop Chicagoland transit from falling off the fiscal cliff
While some might argue it's risky for the senator and his colleagues to hold out for a full $1.5B to upgrade the system, he says that failure to do so would be a missed opportunity.
July 24, 2025
Key players in the fiscal cliff drama discuss “How Do We Get There? The Future of Illinois Transit” at City Club of Chicago panel
Streetsblog Chicago readers know all too well by now that our region's public transportation system, and therefore the fortunes of the entire state of Illinois, are at a crossroads right now. That's a result of what happened last May 31 in the state capitol, a day that will live in infamy as "The Night Transit Funding Didn't Go Down In Springfield."
June 17, 2025
