House Democratic leaders Wednesday introduced legislation to help Pennsylvania establish a long-term, comprehensive and sustainable plan for funding the maintenance and improvement of the Commonwealth’s crumbling roads, bridges and transit systems.

While Pennsylvanians continue to wait for the governor to lead in the transportation crisis, House Democratic leaders reintroduced a package of bills modeled after the recommendations made by Gov. Tom Corbett’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission in August 2011. The governor has yet to act on those recommendations.

"As we begin a new, two-year legislative session, we remain hopeful that Governor Corbett finally will show some leadership on this issue that is of paramount importance to Pennsylvania residents, motorists, workers and businesses," said Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny). "This is a public safety crisis, but it’s also an economic crisis. A modern, reliable transportation system is critical to creating and sustaining thousands of jobs and to enabling businesses to remain competitive and successful."

Democratic Whip Mike Hanna (D-Centre) and Democratic Caucus Chairman Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), who sponsored the bills during the 2011-12 session, reintroduced the legislation as House Bills 12, 13 and 14 in the new 2013-14 session.

"Gov.  Corbett has had nearly a year and a half to implement the recommendations from his own advisory commission,” said Rep. Hanna. “Instead, he chose to focus on initiatives that would suppress voter turnout, give the gas industry a free pass to drill without proper environmental restrictions, dole out corporate welfare while children are left in underfunded public schools, and hand over control of the successful Pennsylvania Lottery to a foreign corporation.

“It’s clear that the governor’s priorities do not include the hardworking middle class that drives our economy," Rep. Hanna said.

The TFAC report provided a roadmap for raising as much as $2.5 billion a year for Pennsylvania’s transportation needs. The commission urged PennDOT to consider a number of measures including adjusting outdated vehicle and driver fees for inflation, increasing fines, uncapping the Oil Company Franchise Tax over five years and modernizing many PennDOT services for cost savings.

The Democratic legislative package also carries specific recommendations to ensure adequate funding for mass transit.

"Mass transit is a critical component of our transportation network,” said Rep. Frankel. "A well-functioning public transit system creates vibrant cities, takes cars off the roads, and gives freedom of movement to all our residents who can’t drive. Rural areas that don’t see much daily traffic still deserve upkeep; just as urban centers deserve buses and trains to get people to work. It’s not either/or. We need both."

Taking their cues from Corbett’s own advisory commission, the Democratic leaders noted several statistics that were cited in the TFAC report:

--- Every dollar spent on infrastructure during the decade of investment will result in an additional 65 cents being spent in Pennsylvania.

---During the decade:

-- 135,000 to 145,000 full-time equivalent jobs will be created and sustained. This is a 50 percent increase over the base transportation improvement program.

-- $125 million to $150 million in additional sales tax will be generated (in 2011 dollars), an increase of 65 percent over the base transportation improvement program.

-- $235 million to $260 million in additional personal income tax will be generated, an 80 percent increase over the base transportation improvement program.

Democratic Appropriations Chairman Joe Markosek (D-Allegheny), said this is an issue that demands immediate attention by the governor and the General Assembly.

"Waiting to take action is no longer an option," Rep. Markosek said. "We must act now to ensure that Pennsylvanians have safe roads and bridges on which to travel, and to send a message to employers around the globe that Pennsylvania is open for business."

In addition to Hanna, Dermody, Frankel and Markosek, the following Democratic leaders offered their support for a comprehensive transportation funding package: Caucus Secretary Ronald G. Waters (D-Philadelphia),  Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster); and Caucus Administrator Neal P. Goodman (D-Schuylkill).

They said different regions have different needs but only a statewide approach will help to get Pennsylvania’s people where they need to go.

NewsClip: House Dems Plug Transportation Funding Plan

1/14/2013