Pa. Legislative Leader Says Transportation Bill Will Get A House Vote
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Even though he doesn't support it, the majority leader of the Pennsylvania House says he's angling for a vote this fall on a state Senate-passed bill to increase transportation spending by $2½ billion per year.
The transportation issue stalled in the House last June because Republicans and Democrats couldn't agree on spending.
Today, House majority leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County) told the Pennsylvania Press Club that he still thinks the Senate-passed transportation bill is too rich.
And while business leaders may be advocating for it, he contends, regular folks are not.
"I myself think that the public is not that focused. Nobody's asking for it amongst everyday people to increase their gas tax, and nobody's asking for fees, fines, and surcharges to be increased. But I know that the governor wants it," Turzai said.
Gov. Tom Corbett has advocated for a less expensive version of the Senate transportation bill, something that House Democrats would not support. So Turzai says he will push for an up-or-down vote on the bill as passed by the Senate, to find out where members stand.
