Kane County Reporter

State Representative Dan Ugaste of Geneva, Illinois, is preparing to introduce legislation that aims to stop advertising campaigns by government-funded organizations that benefit themselves. This legislative move is partly a reaction to the Regional Transportation Authority's (RTA) campaign urging public action for more state funding.

The RTA's ongoing initiative, called "Save Transit Now," claims a financial crisis looms without additional state support. The agency seeks an extra $1.5 billion from the state to avoid severe service reductions.

Representative Ugaste criticized the RTA’s spending practices: “The agency claims it is broke, yet the organization is currently spending three-quarters of a million dollars on an all-encompassing ad campaign in northeast Illinois,” he said. “This reckless spending is wasteful and out of touch. No entity that receives government funding should be allowed to advertise to the public, solicit the public, or conduct a marketing campaign in favor of or against any policy or legislation.”