FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2007
CONTACT:  Erik Arneson, (717) 787-4712
Tim Nyquist, (717) 787-7084
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Senators Scarnati and Pileggi Encouraged by House Action on Transportation Funding 

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) today expressed satisfaction that House Democrats have realized that there is little interest in funding roads, bridges, and mass transit by imposing a back-door gas tax increase or leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

“We are encouraged that House Democrats, and possibly Governor Rendell, are becoming serious about a taxpayer-friendly solution to transportation funding,” said Sen. Scarnati. “With the unconstitutional Oil Company Gross Profits tax and leasing the Turnpike to a private entity receiving no support, we need to direct our attention to proposals that offer the greatest effectiveness at the least cost to Pennsylvania taxpayers.”

Sen. Pileggi said, “We need to thoroughly review this plan, but it appears to be a very positive step. We have said all along that the Governor’s proposal would ultimately cost the citizens of Pennsylvania more at the gas pump.”

One serious concern noted by the senators is the current proportion of funding for roads and bridges in the plan. The Transportation Reform Commission has recommended a plan with 56% of funding dedicated to roads and bridges. This plan would only send 42% of the new funding to roads and bridges over the first three years.

“The devil is always in the details,” Scarnati said. “And there are a lot of details in this plan that need to be examined from top to bottom. Senate Republicans have repeatedly said during budget negotiations that we will not increase taxes this year or next. Now that the transportation dialogue is moving in this direction as well, I am hopeful that the Governor will turn his attention to the core budget and, for the first time in his administration, get one done on time.”