Rep. Legislator Says Mass Transit is Welfare (it keeps people off welfare by getting them to jobs)

[JPZenger]

http://www.citypaper.net/blogs/nakedcity/Right-wing-legislator-calls-SEPTA-welfare.html

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/harrisburg_politics/Lawmaker-says-SEPTA-is-more-welfare.html

Excerpt:

"In an email ... Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R) said mass transit subsidies were "just more welfare." Rep. Killion launched the back and forth by noting a new report by the Pennsylvania Economy League showed 27 percent of the state’s transportation funding went to southeastern Pennsylvania counties, while that region had 32 percent of the state population and 40 percent of the state’s economic activity.

Then Rep. Rick Saccone (R) chimed in saying his constituents and many in the state, “… are fed up with, as they most often say, ‘pouring money down a black hole of inefficiency, patronage and corruption.’ Saccone added his constituents "are fed up with, as they most often say, ‘pouring money down a black hole of inefficiency, patronage and corruption.’ If these investments are necessary then the private sector should and will invest in them. I have had five town halls in the last two weeks and people are disgusted with mass transit funding."

.... Rep. Harper (R) responded "Many commuters who drive support SEPTA because it gets cars off the road and out of their way. Still others recognize its benefits to cleaner air in the region. Finally let's recognize that gas taxes from SEPTA's service area support road projects all over the state. I don't see any of you opposed legislators refusing THAT subsidy. Did I miss it? Should we discuss the education funding formula? I thought we were a Commonwealth for things we deem in the general public interest. No?”

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http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-pa-corbett-transportation-house-0617-20130617,0,1777363.story

Excerpt about the Lehigh Valley's LANTA transit system:

"In the last 16 years, the number of people riding a LANTA bus has risen 60 percent to 6 million. That number is expected to keep going up if the Lehigh Valley's population climbs more than 10 percent over the next seven years as expected, LANTA Executive Director Armando Greco told a House Transportation Committee. The only way to maintain and upgrade LANTA's fleet — and the deteriorating roads and bridges it travels across — is through an infusion of money that would come from a Senate bill that would add $2.5 billion to the state transportation budget, Greco said.

Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, asked the transit officials how they liked other lawmakers making a derogatory comparison by likening mass transit to a welfare subsidy.

Kilmer, the Lancaster Rose Tree representative, said mass transit keeps people off welfare because 70 percent of riders from third-class cities do not have their own cars. So when mass transit has to cut service because of funding problems, people cannot get to work, which could lead them to welfare, he said."

[CrispyQ]

1. What a fucking asshole.

Metcalfe is Pennsylvania's most right-wing state legislator, known for opposing gay rights and supporting guns. He also introduced voter ID legislation and a "birther" bill that would require presidential candidates to prove they are U.S. citizens. This is a politician who says he has been "throwing around the idea of starting a heterosexual caucus" in the House. (See CP's April 2012 profile here)

Who votes for these fucks?