The leader of the Illinois Senate says he expects a vote this week on a plan to scale back free bus and train rides for seniors. Chicago Democrat John Cullerton is endorsing a Republican plan to let only low-income seniors ride for free. This comes as the Chicago Transit Authority says the costly program and declining tax revenue have contributed to a big budget deficit.

CULLERTON: The CTA is going to need to know how much money they are going to have in order to determine whether they should have any fare hikes. So I think we owe them an effort to pass that now. There might have to be, though, some route cuts in the short-term until the money from the real estate transfer tax and the sales tax comes back.

The free rides program was instituted last year by then-Governor Rod Blagojevich. He said it was the only way he'd approve of a tax increase to benefit transit agencies. State Senator Rickey Hendon says he opposes rolling back the program. Hendon worries seniors will stop travelling downtown to spend money.