Fate of Pa. Transportation Funding Bill Still Uncertain
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- The future of legislation that would raise new money for roads, bridges, and mass transit in Pennsylvania remains up in the air.
Back in September, state House majority leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County) said he wanted an up-or-down vote on transportation funding.
And Governor Tom Corbett wants a transportation bill.
But House Democrats feel a measure passed by the state Senate is barely enough, even while Turzai and some of his fellow Republicans feel it is way too expensive.
Now, Turzai is saying -– again -– that he's optimistic that a vote could come next week:
"I think many people believe it's time to deal with it one way or the other. Thank you!"
Then again, House GOP leaders signaled last month that it was time to either vote on the issue or move it to the back burner -- only to postpone the vote again so that negotiations could continue toward a compromise (see related story).
The Pennsylvania legislature rarely votes on major bills unless passage is guaranteed, but Turzai continues to maintain that could happen in this case.
