Quinn Says RTA Culpable In Metra Scandals
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Governor Quinn says that in the wake of the patronage and executive director payout scandal at Metra, he wants experts to look at an overhaul of the state's transportation agencies, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
Quinn Says RTA Culpable In Metra Scandals
Pat Quinn says it is not enough to change the Metra rail agency from top to bottom. The Governor says the parent agency, the Regional Transportation Authority, has seemed clueless to its own oversight duties.
"Metra has had three major scandals in just the past few years. There was the matter of Donald Udstuen, who went to jail and was a Metra board member who engaged in wrongful conduct. After that, we had the situation with their executive director Phillip Pagano and his wrongdoing and now we have this," said Quinn.
The Governor says he has wanted an as-yet to be named blue ribbon panel to recommend a new structure for Metra and the RTA and he wants the state transportation commissioner Ann Schneider to play a key role.
The Governor notes that currently he doesn't have the power to appoint anyone to the Metra or RTA boards or directly remove them.
