Posted on 11/22/2013 7:35:17 AM PST by Phillyred
HARRISBURG - More than $2 billion will soon begin to flow into road and bridge repair and mass-transit improvements after the state House gave final approval Thursday to the long-awaited transportation bill.
The House sent the bill - the first comprehensive transportation-funding legislation in 15 years - to Gov. Corbett late in the day with a 113-85 bipartisan vote.
With it, Corbett notched a major legislative victory. He said it represented a "new era in resurgent and reenergized Pennsylvania."
"This bold transportation plan demonstrates that our elected officials are serious about keeping our residents safe and our economy strong," he said.
Corbett, speaking at an early evening news conference surrounded by lawmakers from both parties and representatives of business and labor interests, celebrated a bipartisan achievement that he said should be a model for the nation.
"We forged a compromise for a transportation solution for the people and the good of the commonwealth," said Corbett, who is expected to sign the bill early next week.
To pay for the $2.3 billion plan over five years, the decades-old cap on the oil-franchise tax will be lifted and motor vehicle license fees hiked, and higher fines will be imposed on driving infractions.
While estimates based on today's prices indicate that the per-gallon cost of gasoline will rise by as much as 28 cents, phased in over five years, Corbett said it was too early to say what the impact would be.
"Will [gas companies] pass some of that along? Yes," said Corbett. "But nobody can say how much."
Corbett, who is running for reelection in 2014, deflected questions about whether the tax and fee increases mean that he broke his 2010 campaign promise not to raise taxes.
"I did not campaign on transportation. What I realized when I came into office was how bad it was," he said, adding: "You either have to take action or get out of office."
The final bill won the support of nearly all Philadelphia Democrats - Rep. John Sabatina was the only one to oppose it - and most Republicans from the Philadelphia suburbs.
Antitax lawmakers objected to the gas-tax increase, and pro-union Democrats opposed the prevailing-wage regulations that will lower the wages of workers on transportation projects costing less than $100,000.
The bill allocates $1.65 billion to repair thousands of bridges and thousands of miles of roads, sends nearly $500 million to transit, and sets aside money for airports, ports, railways, and walking and cycling routes.
The bill also contains a provision allowing speed limits to be raised from 65 to 70 m.p.h. on certain highways, which will be determined after a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation study.
Earth to Tom....Massive tax increases are NOT what gets Republicans re-elected!!!
No, not interested in paying more. Stop looting the funds for roads/bridges to pay off the LIVs, Unions, Gimmedats
yeah, what happened to that damned stimulous $$$ that my great grand kids will still be paying interest on??????!!!!! Wasn’t THAT supposed to fix every bridge and highway in America? Disgusting!
I don’t doubt that roads and bridges need repair and it takes a lot of money to do so, but “...and sets aside money for airports, ports, railways, and walking and cycling routes.” is just just pork barrel spending. Why should drivers be saddled with costs to airports, sea ports and places for people to bicycle and walk? Those who use those facilities should pay the costs.....................
What’s this $2.3B gonna do that the $787 Shovel-ready Stimuli (Stimulus if it was a one-time thing, but it has been EVERY YEAR since 2009 due to CR’s with NO BUDGET!) isn’t already doing. We have roads here in MA that have probably been paved and repaved three times in the last 10 years. As soon as a wrinkle appears, money flows in, a BIG sign with politicians names pops up, and a work area opens up.
What Reed (sicKo) did yesterday should be answered with NOT ONE piece of legislation being passed till there is a majority of American Adults Patriots in DC. This would be a SHUTDOWN, by other means.... if that’s what it takes.
Geeze. Buying votes with other peoples money is getting really expensive.
People who have to drive a car, or who prefer to drive a car, must really hate this guy right now.
The Republicrat party strikes again!
And he doesn't give a sh*t. The tax slaves will do as they're told.
I can. But first is this guy a liar or an idiot?
Here's your answer: All of it. So, idiot or liar?
Pennsylvania.
Republican Governor.
Republican House
Republican Senate
They could have passed ANYTHING.
Rein in or ban public unions
Stop teachers making $100,000+/year from striking
Tort Reform
Lowering taxes
Workers comp reform
ANYTHING pro-business so that companies would want to relocate here.
What did we get????
The F*CKING highest gas taxes in AMERICAN so that public union goons will not feel ONE CUT.
I am done with the republicans in PA.
Go to hell.
At least Democrats would have been honest enough to just raise our income tax. Not hide the baloney slices in the ever-fluctuating retail price of gasoline. Or create more incentives for law enforcement to be abused for revenue generation.
Start a shale oil company. Corbett won’t tax that.
Oops, make that shale gas.
You forgot one - elimination of the “State Store” system, so I can buy a bottle of wine from my local grocery store.
You said it better than I could. I am fed up with this game. I am sick of being disarmed in political debate, because really there is no reason to vote for republicans!
I feel the same way.
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