Corbett still refuses to act on transportation funding, even with business groups demanding he act

[JPZenger]

http://www.keystonepolitics.com/2012/04/how-much-more-political-cover-does-tom-corbett-need-on-transportation/

Excerpts:

"Tom Corbett looks like a damn coward on the transportation funding bill. Everybody knows what needs to happen here. PA needs to uncap the gas tax, raise some user fees, and toll more roads to pay for the state’s crumbling infrastructure. Corbett didn’t want to come out and say this, so he punted it to a special commission to “study” the issue.

But then the commission released their recommendations and Corbett wouldn’t even comment on them! Republicans in the legislature stand ready to pass the recommendations, or something like them, and are now saying publicly that everybody’s waiting on Corbett to lead.

Yesterday, a group of right-leaning business organizations held an event calling on Corbett to make up his mind. The ultimate indignity happened a few months ago when the Democrats, who have no power at all, had to propose a bill containing Corbett’s commission’s recommendations.

This is crazy! Corbett has all the political cover in the world, save for Grover Norquist’s permission, and he still won’t endorse his own commission’s recommendations. What more could he possibly need to make a decision?"

[elleng]

1. This is the governor of PENNSYLVANIA???

HOLY CRAP!

[Lugnut]

3. He sure is.

There will be no PA left when his term is up. That's assuming he isn't re-elected.

[The Wielding Truth]

2. As I say,these conservative Republican's should not have any power in government. It hurts us all.

Vote for the person who really thinks this country should be perfected to our Preamble.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Not one who sells themselves for power or money to the detriment of our country and it's future in a working democracy.

[PA Democrat]

4. Anyone who drives on PA roads & bridges knows you don't need a "study"

to tell you that our crumbling infrastructure needs to be addressed.

U.S. roads are in such lousy condition that motorists spend an average of $335 each year repairing the damage all that potholed pavement inflicts on vehicles. That adds up to $67 billion dollars annually, according to a report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
The advocacy organization found 45 percent of the roads in the United States are in poor, mediocre or fair condition. That comes to more than 150,000 miles of bad road. Worse, 12 percent of the nation’s bridges — 71,000 in all — have deteriorating decks or defects in their support structure.

Blame for this mess, according to the report’s authors, rests with federal and state transportation policies that emphasize new construction over maintenance. Politicians, influenced by lobbyists, would rather build than repair. And states aren’t penalized when they use federal maintenance funding for other purposes.

“This report calls into question our nation’s transportation priorities,” says Phineas Baxandall, one of the report’s authors. “Right now we are wasting scarce resources and spending billions on new lanes and superhighways instead of preserving our existing roadways that need repair. It’s like adding a guest room on your home when the roof is leaking.”

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/04/road-work-ahead-report/

I'll bet Pennsylvanians are spending much more than the national average of $335 on car repairs due to poor roads. It really is like a hidden form of taxation.

[JPZenger]

5. Go for a walk under some old bridges in Pa. - it is really scary

[MadrasT]

6. I hold my breath

Every time I cross some of the old one lane bridges on the back roads.

Hell, I hold my breath when I cross some of the bridges on Route 30.

I try not to think about it too hard.