SPRINGFIELD - Many senior citizens would again pay half-price rather than ride Chicago-area mass transit for free under a deal Illinois lawmakers advanced Wednesday in an effort to ease the transit agencies financial woes.

It was one of several key issues ranging from campaign finance to Cook County sales taxes lawmakers were trying to resolve in the waning days of their fall session, slated to end Friday.

As proposed, the free rides would be scaled back to just those who qualify for the state's low-income assistance program known as "Circuit Breaker." Under those guidelines, a single senior citizen making less than $22,000 annually would still ride for free. All other seniors would return to the half-price rides.

The switch could cut RTA losses by $37 million. State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat, said the savings could offset cuts and fare increases.

Pace is considering raising paratransit fares to $3.50 in the suburbs and up to $5 in Chicago. Paratransit fares currently range in price but on Nov. 15 will be set at $3.

"It's absolutely unconscionable to raise fares for the group of people who can least afford it," said Ray Campbell, a visually impaired Glen Ellyn resident who has participated in Pace advisory committees on disabilities.

Pace also is looking at eliminating transfers. That could mean disabled individuals from the suburbs who travel to Chicago could pay more than $8 for a one-way trip.

Also on Wednesday, a key Senate committee endorsed making it easier for the Cook County Board to undo a much-maligned sales tax increase. The plan, which could get a final Senate vote and go to the governor's desk today, would change to 3/5ths from 4/5ths the majority needed to override the board president.

So far, Board President Todd Stroger has vetoed two tax rollbacks.

Meanwhile, a sweeping campaign finance proposal is still being negotiated as good government groups push for limiting how much legislative leaders and political parties can contribute to campaigns.

Supporters say such a move would limit the power of legislative leaders and improve political ethics by making candidates and rank-and-file lawmakers more independent.

A tentative deal discussed Wednesday at the Capitol would limit such contributions during the primary campaign season. Restricting primary election financing, in theory, would limit the ability of political bosses to punish lawmakers who break from leadership.

But some Republicans questioned the merit and said they'd not been included talks.

"The big money is spent in the general, not the primary," said Sara Wojciki, spokeswoman for Illinois House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego.

• Daily Herald staff writer Marni Pyke contributed to this report.