Corbett Expects Compromise On Transportation Funding Bill

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett says he expects a $2.5 billion annual transportation funding plan passed by the state Senate last week will reach his desk in trimmed down form.

Governor Corbett in February proposed raising about $1.8 billion a year for roads, bridges and mass transit primarily by lifting the cap on gasoline taxes at the wholesale level. The Senate last week passed a bill that would raise an extra $700 million by also increasing vehicle fees and the fines for most moving violations.

On Monday, the governor said he expected to see a compromise bill.

"Well, it's higher than what I want [and] I don't think that's the bill that's going to make it to my desk. I think you'll see something in-between. Just as the liquor bill is going to be different – we know that."

Corbett refers to expected changes to a House-passed bill on another of his priorities, liquor privatization.

The chairman of the House Transportation Committee has also expressed the opinion that any transportation funding bill that gets to the governor will likely fall somewhere between the Senate bill and Corbett's proposal.