The bottom line of the commission? Aren't they a government agency?

In NYC the taxi commission is in the pocket of the medaillion holders. That's why the recent law to issue more mediallions (2,000 at ~800k each = $1.6b for the city) had to go through the state instead (Albany being less corrupt than anything is mind-boggling), until of course a judge knocked down the law and said only the city could do so.

Taxi commissions make a significant amount of money from Taxi medallions. They can cost anywhere from $200k-$1 million dollars each in some cities.

No, they don't. There are no medallions in DC. And any money they "make" goes to the city's general fund anyway.

Ah you're right.

Only source I could find about revenue is how they added $9.9 million in revenue by increasing the surcharge by 50 cents and recently awarded a $35 million dollar contract to Verifone.

So they must be generating some significant amount of money still.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/post/final-...