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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

“Doomsday” Looms for Many Commuters and Transit Workers

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Monday, March 16, 2009   

New York, NY — Millions of New Yorkers are headed to work today under threat of a 23 percent fare hike coupled with the possible loss of some bus, train and subway runs. Steep fare increases, painful service cuts and layoffs of at least 1,100 transit workers all will happen, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) warns, if Albany does not act by March 25. The MTA Board met Friday to remind lawmakers that MTA's so-called "doomsday budget" takes effect next week, unless lawmakers step up.

One MTA board member said a failure to provide the needed funds would be a recipe for destroying public transportation. Lisa Tyson with the Long Island Progressive Coalition agrees.

"Hundreds of thousands of people take the subways, the buses, the trains; if we destroy our system, our roads will be much more clogged than they are right now - and you will not be able to get to work."

Lawmakers are divided as to how to offer additional funding or whether to provide it at all. Among their ideas are tolls for East River bridges and the so-called mobility tax: 33 cents on every $100 of payroll for businesses in the MTA service area.

Hudson Valley lawmakers are lining up against the mobility tax, contending their area is already doing enough. However, Tyson argues that the tax would be a small price to pay for a transit system that keeps the New York economy rolling.

"It is basically a very small tax on businesses - actually, it's on the number of workers that you have. It's really important, because we need that money."

Democrats control both houses but have not yet agreed about the best way to fund the MTA, while most Republican lawmakers oppose the additional funding.





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