Vote Expected Later This Month On Pennsylvania Transportation Funding Bill
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - Despite his opposition to it, the majority leader says he still expects the Pennsylvania House to vote later this month on legislation to raise new funds for roads, bridges and mass transit. Meanwhile, a vote has been delayed at the request of the governor.
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, an Allegheny County Republican, says he was ready to have a vote Wednesday on a transportation bill passed by the Senate but...
"They are having some discussions, and the governor asked us to hold off the vote," Turzai said.
Turzai and other House Republicans believe the $2.5-billion a year Senate bill is too expensive, while Democrats have previously indicated they will only vote for a measure that spends at least that much. The governor, meanwhile, has advocated for a smaller funding package.
"He fully expects that, you know, whatever transportation funding package finally gets out there," Corbett spokesman Steve Chizmar said. "It's going to be somewhere between $1.8 and $2.5 [billion]."
But as to whether Corbett asked for a delay to negotiate for a number smaller than $2.5 billion, Chizmar will only say the governor wants a package that "everyone can agree on."
