Pa. House Transportation Committee OKs Compromise Funding Bill
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- With just four days left before the Pennsylvania Legislature's scheduled summer recess, the state House Transportation Committee has approved a funding bill for roads, bridges, and mass transit.
In a move that increases the chance for getting a bill to the governor before recess, the committee approved a plan that raises less money for roads, bridges, and mass transit than a bill passed by the state senate but more than what Gov. Corbett has proposed -- and much more after five years than what had been called for in a Republican amendment discussed earlier in the week, especially with regard to mass transit.
But some Democratic members of the committee feel it doesn't go far enough.
Mike McGeehan of Philadelphia, ranking Democrat on the Transportation Committee (third from left in front row), says the plan is not perfect, but adds, "I would hope that they see that doing nothing is an expensive and destructive route to go."
The plan approved by the House panel would lift a cap on wholesale gasoline taxes but would eliminate provisions of the Senate-passed bill that would have raised license and registration fees and would have put a $100 surcharge on most traffic tickets.
