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House Finally Passes Transportation Funding Plan

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After years of describing the situation as a crisis, lawmakers in the state House finally approved a comprehensive funding plan for roads, bridges and mass transit in Pennsylvania late Tuesday.

The favorable vote came just one day after the House rejected the same proposal. PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch says he believes some lawmakers reconsidered the impact of their negative votes overnight and that led to a change of heart for 6 Republicans and 2 Democrats.

Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) said he changed his vote after being reassured the bill would keep changes to reduce laborers’ pay on smaller public works projects, and that the Senate would further amend the measure to reduce the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s current borrowing load. One House GOP aide suggested that deal had yet to be sewed up.

The plan would provide about $2.3 billion annually, and includes increased fees and the removal of a cap on a wholesale gasoline tax. A block of Republican lawmakers had opposed those revenue generators, while a group of Democrats objected to demands by the GOP for prevailing wage reform. In the end, the bill had a little bit to make everyone unhappy, but not enough to stop a majority of lawmakers from approving the much-needed funding plan.

The vote is also a much-needed victory for the Corbett Administration, which lobbied hard to get lawmakers to pass a funding plan for road and bridge repair and mass transit. The failure of this major initiative had been hanging over the governor’s head on the eve of a re-election campaign in 2014.

The plan now goes to the Senate, which passed a similar proposal last June. Senate leaders were planning to meet Wednesday morning to discuss the legislation.

 

House Passes Republican Spending Plan

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After nearly five hours of debate, the state house has approved a 28.3 billion dollar Republican spending plan.  The 108 to 92 vote came along party lines.

Education was a main theme as members rose to speak about the proposed General fund budget.   Republicans say it increases spending for education.  Democrats say it does not come close to restoring the cuts of the last two years.

House majority leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) called the spending plan responsible, compassionate, caring and fiscal stewardship. He says it recognizes we have to live within our means.

House minority leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) says the budget once again turns its back on our children.  He says schools have been forced to slash the most fundamental tools for educating our children; teachers and books.  He called it unconscionable and shameful.

The measure now goes to the senate.  A spokesman for the majority leader says they’ll continue working with the House and Governor Tom Corbett to reach an agreement on next year’s budget.  They’re confident the work will be completed by June 30th.  The Senate is expected to take up budget-related bills the week of June 24th.

Final House Budget Vote Possible Today

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    The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is poised to give its final approval to a $27.3 billion budget plan. The House voted 110-89 to advance the bill on Monday, setting up the final vote which could come as early as today. The spending plan stays true to Governor Tom Corbett’s overall spend figure, while supporters say it proritzes education funding over welfare spending. That means that while some of the Governor’s proposed education cuts are still included, some of that funding has been restored in the House version.

    House Speaker Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) left the door open for more spending on Monday, but only if the Governor’s office changes its revenue projections for the new fiscal year which begins on July 1st. Meanwhile, Smith agrees with the governor’s stance on this year’s surplus, currently a half-billion dollars. That money is destined for reserve accounts or for debt payments.

    Speaking to the PA Press Club on Monday, Speaker Smith also laid the blame for this year’s budget deficit squarely on the shoulders of former Governor Ed Rendell. Smith says Rendell’s legacy is the $4 billion budget gap that lawmakers are now trying to fill.