Pittsburgh community groups strongly support a new amendment to add more police accountability measures to a package called the “Jordan Miles Public Safety Reform Agenda.”
Chairwoman Brandi Fisher of the Alliance for Police Accountability says the amended bills would call for a code of conduct for off-duty officers, and require reports to be filed any time a citizen is frisked.
Fisher says those reports may make officers only consider pat-downs when they are absolutely necessary.
City Solicitor Dan Regan says he’s concerned that the information the bill calls for is confidential, and would be illegal for the police department to submit.
However, Council discovered that Regan had been sent the unamended version of the bill by mistake. Councilman Doug Shields says the amendments don’t require any personal information to be publicized; he says it only requires statistical data to show police performance. The legislation has been held for a week so the Solicitor can review it in the meantime.
The proposed amendments from Councilman Ricky Burgess would augment three standing police accountability bills, requiring: cameras in police cars; paid leave for officers under investigation; and the accreditation of the Pittsburgh Police.
The package was created in response to the Jordan Miles incident of January 2010. The former CAPA student was walking, unarmed, when he was forcefully accosted by three Pittsburgh policemen.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Civic Arena Fate Still on Hold
Pittsburgh Council has again voted to hold off making a decision on the historic status of the Civic Arena for one week.
While some Council Members wanted a preliminary vote on the designation today, others argued for a three-week hold with a post-agenda meeting held in the meantime.
Councilman Doug Shields, in particular, supported waiting to receive a master development plan from the Pittsburgh Penguins before voting on the designation.
Shields says he also wants to look more closely at the new arena transaction that he says awarded the Penguins with the Civic Arena property. He says former Governor Ed Rendell, County Executive Dan Onorato, and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl were all familiar with the deal, and he says he wants to ask them about the mechanics of it.
But Councilman Daniel Lavelle was adamant that the arena is an obstacle to the redevelopment of the Hill District community, which is in his Council District. Lavelle says he is “in a rush” to demolish the arena so that redevelopment can begin.
Councilman Ricky Burgess echoed that argument, saying it is unlikely anyone will submit a development plan if it’s still dubious that the old arena will be torn down.
Shields says Council’s designation of the Civic Arena as historic may not save it from being bulldozed; he says other Pittsburgh buildings have received the historic designation but have been razed all the same.
While some Council Members wanted a preliminary vote on the designation today, others argued for a three-week hold with a post-agenda meeting held in the meantime.
Councilman Doug Shields, in particular, supported waiting to receive a master development plan from the Pittsburgh Penguins before voting on the designation.
Shields says he also wants to look more closely at the new arena transaction that he says awarded the Penguins with the Civic Arena property. He says former Governor Ed Rendell, County Executive Dan Onorato, and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl were all familiar with the deal, and he says he wants to ask them about the mechanics of it.
But Councilman Daniel Lavelle was adamant that the arena is an obstacle to the redevelopment of the Hill District community, which is in his Council District. Lavelle says he is “in a rush” to demolish the arena so that redevelopment can begin.
Councilman Ricky Burgess echoed that argument, saying it is unlikely anyone will submit a development plan if it’s still dubious that the old arena will be torn down.
Shields says Council’s designation of the Civic Arena as historic may not save it from being bulldozed; he says other Pittsburgh buildings have received the historic designation but have been razed all the same.
UPMC to Let Deal with Highmark Run Out
With Highmark recently announcing their plans to go from an insurance company to a provider by purchasing West Penn Allegheny Hospital System, this makes them a direct competitor with UPMC. Paul Wood, VP of Public Relations at UPMC said that when a contract the hospital system has had with Highmark to refer patients their way runs out in 2012 they will not renew.
He said this will not affect their clientele because of their strong relationships with other insurance systems.
Under the terms of the agreement, Highmark clients will have access to UPMC hospitals but will have to get approval and may face higher deductibles and co-payments.
UPMC Mercy and Children's Hospital have contracts that end in 2015 and 2022. Those contracts will be carried out.
He said this will not affect their clientele because of their strong relationships with other insurance systems.
Under the terms of the agreement, Highmark clients will have access to UPMC hospitals but will have to get approval and may face higher deductibles and co-payments.
UPMC Mercy and Children's Hospital have contracts that end in 2015 and 2022. Those contracts will be carried out.
Progress on Carnegie Mellon University's Lunar Landing Craft
CMU and Astrobiotic Technology have one of the twenty-nine privately-funded teams from 17 countries on 4 continents competing for the Google Lunar X Prize worth $20 million and more to the first to land a robot on the moon that will travel at least 500 meters on the surface while transmitting video, images and data back to Earth.
The structure of the half-ton aluminum landing craft that will deliver the Red Rover robot to the moon in April, 2014 was just completed and will be shipped to a Boeing facility in California for shake tests to assure it will not flex or fail.
Over the next two years, CMU Professor Red Whittaker, also CEO of Astrobiotic Technology, says the team will add to the landing craft a fuel system, engines, wiring, computers and software, which will also undergo vacuum, thermal and more shake tests. He says there will be many moon missions in search of both scientific and economic benefits.
Much of the project has been invented and crafted in Western Pennsylvania, with software from ANSYS in Canonsburg and aluminum and expertise from Alcoa.
Clinic Legislation Moves Forward
A bill changing the way Pennsylvania’s abortion clinics are regulated has cleared the Senate on a 38-12 vote.
The legislation reclassifies abortion clinics as ambulatory surgical facilities. Supporters say the change will provide stricter oversight, and help prevent another clinic from turning into a “house of horrors,” like Kermit Gosnell’s Philadelphia facility. “It is time for abortion centers to play by the same rules that govern ambulatory surgical centers,” said Maria Vitale, the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation’s education director, in an emailed statement. “For far too long, abortion facilities have been operating in the dark. For the sake of women’s health and safety, it’s time for abortion centers to be held accountable.
But abortion rights supporters worry the reclassification will lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs for clinics scrambling to adapt to new codes. Republican Pat Vance, who wrote the initial bill increasing state scrutiny of clinics, said she’s concerned many will shut down, but still voted “yes” on the measure. “My original bill will still apply, since the Mensch amendment went in, for at least the first nine weeks,” she explained. “I think it’s important, if any clinics are able to survive and stay open, that there will still be health care for poor women.”
Vance, who ended her comments by declaring, “I reluctantly rise to say that I will support my own legislation,” wasn’t the only hesitant “yes” vote. Democrat Lisa Boscola blasted the measure, saying, “We’ve had nearly 40 years of activism by women and men. The courts in this country have allowed a woman’s right to choose. And this amendment in this bill basically strikes all those years of activism – all those years have been washed away in just a couple weeks.” Boscola ended up supporting the bill, though, because post-Gosnell, she thinks abortion clinics need stricter oversight.
The Senate vote came a bit more than a month after the House approved a similar measure, making abortion regulation the latest issue this year to see redundant House and Senate action. (Both chambers have passed their own versions of Castle Doctrine legislation and bath salts bans, to name two examples.) It’s not clear which chamber will act next, or which measure will move forward.
The legislation reclassifies abortion clinics as ambulatory surgical facilities. Supporters say the change will provide stricter oversight, and help prevent another clinic from turning into a “house of horrors,” like Kermit Gosnell’s Philadelphia facility. “It is time for abortion centers to play by the same rules that govern ambulatory surgical centers,” said Maria Vitale, the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation’s education director, in an emailed statement. “For far too long, abortion facilities have been operating in the dark. For the sake of women’s health and safety, it’s time for abortion centers to be held accountable.
But abortion rights supporters worry the reclassification will lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs for clinics scrambling to adapt to new codes. Republican Pat Vance, who wrote the initial bill increasing state scrutiny of clinics, said she’s concerned many will shut down, but still voted “yes” on the measure. “My original bill will still apply, since the Mensch amendment went in, for at least the first nine weeks,” she explained. “I think it’s important, if any clinics are able to survive and stay open, that there will still be health care for poor women.”
Vance, who ended her comments by declaring, “I reluctantly rise to say that I will support my own legislation,” wasn’t the only hesitant “yes” vote. Democrat Lisa Boscola blasted the measure, saying, “We’ve had nearly 40 years of activism by women and men. The courts in this country have allowed a woman’s right to choose. And this amendment in this bill basically strikes all those years of activism – all those years have been washed away in just a couple weeks.” Boscola ended up supporting the bill, though, because post-Gosnell, she thinks abortion clinics need stricter oversight.
The Senate vote came a bit more than a month after the House approved a similar measure, making abortion regulation the latest issue this year to see redundant House and Senate action. (Both chambers have passed their own versions of Castle Doctrine legislation and bath salts bans, to name two examples.) It’s not clear which chamber will act next, or which measure will move forward.
Marcellus Shale Levy Advances
For the first time, a Senate committee has approved an annual levy on Marcellus Shale drillers.
The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee unanimously approved a natural gas drilling impact fee this morning. An amendment introduced by Chairwoman Mary Jo White changed the fee’s structure. Instead of a $10,000 base fee with multipliers based on production volume and gas prices, the fee would begin at $40,000, and gradually reduce to $10,000 over four years. The fee would be phased out, after a well’s tenth year of production.
White’s language would send an annual $1 million payment to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. The money would be used “to support training programs for emergency responders” and “provide grants to fire departments for the purchase of special equipment required to respond to fires and other emergencies,” according to White’s amendment memo. It would also divert municipalities’ share of the fee from environmental programs to affordable housing initiatives.
White, however, warned lawmakers and observers not to spend too much time dwelling on the changes. “Obviously this is not the final product,” she said before the vote. “Some of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have given us some input that made it into this bill. Some of the things in here may not survive.”
The committee’s 11-0 vote is a bit misleading. Several Democrats on the panel made it clear they were voting yes to advance the bill, despite problems with its language. Freshman Democrat John Yudichak said he’s most concerned with the legislation’s model local zoning ordinance, which would set a statewide standard for municipal shale regulations, and bar townships passing stricter rules from receiving any fee money. “I think the Townships Association said it best when they said this would be ‘setting a horrible precedent for local zoning.’ …I know it’s of great concern to many of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle,” he said.
Scarnati attended the meeting and voted for the changes. He’s sticking to his insistence that the fee become law alongside the state budget, despite resistance from House Republican leaders and Governor Corbett. “There is the political perception that although these dollars will not be able to fill the vast holes we have in many of the line items in the budget, the public has a perception that while we are cutting many line items in this budget, we are allowing an industry in this commonwealth to go without paying their fare share,” he said, adding both Republicans and Democrats would consider inserting fee language into budget bills, if the House doesn’t seriously consider his measure. A new Quinnipiac University poll shows nearly 70 percent of Pennsylvania voters support some sort of tax or fee on gas drilling.
The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee unanimously approved a natural gas drilling impact fee this morning. An amendment introduced by Chairwoman Mary Jo White changed the fee’s structure. Instead of a $10,000 base fee with multipliers based on production volume and gas prices, the fee would begin at $40,000, and gradually reduce to $10,000 over four years. The fee would be phased out, after a well’s tenth year of production.
White’s language would send an annual $1 million payment to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. The money would be used “to support training programs for emergency responders” and “provide grants to fire departments for the purchase of special equipment required to respond to fires and other emergencies,” according to White’s amendment memo. It would also divert municipalities’ share of the fee from environmental programs to affordable housing initiatives.
White, however, warned lawmakers and observers not to spend too much time dwelling on the changes. “Obviously this is not the final product,” she said before the vote. “Some of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have given us some input that made it into this bill. Some of the things in here may not survive.”
The committee’s 11-0 vote is a bit misleading. Several Democrats on the panel made it clear they were voting yes to advance the bill, despite problems with its language. Freshman Democrat John Yudichak said he’s most concerned with the legislation’s model local zoning ordinance, which would set a statewide standard for municipal shale regulations, and bar townships passing stricter rules from receiving any fee money. “I think the Townships Association said it best when they said this would be ‘setting a horrible precedent for local zoning.’ …I know it’s of great concern to many of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle,” he said.
Scarnati attended the meeting and voted for the changes. He’s sticking to his insistence that the fee become law alongside the state budget, despite resistance from House Republican leaders and Governor Corbett. “There is the political perception that although these dollars will not be able to fill the vast holes we have in many of the line items in the budget, the public has a perception that while we are cutting many line items in this budget, we are allowing an industry in this commonwealth to go without paying their fare share,” he said, adding both Republicans and Democrats would consider inserting fee language into budget bills, if the House doesn’t seriously consider his measure. A new Quinnipiac University poll shows nearly 70 percent of Pennsylvania voters support some sort of tax or fee on gas drilling.
Trumka: PA Should Use Surplus on Infrastructrure
Governor Tom Corbett has made it clear he respects public employee unions’ right to collective bargaining. That isn’t enough for the AFL-CIO’s national president, Richard Trumka, who visited Harrisburg Monday afternoon for a fundraiser thrown by House Democrat Bill DeWeese.
The Corbett Administration is in the midst of budget negotiations with 17 public employees unions, and wants state workers to accept four percent pay cuts and furlough days. But, in a departure from the way other Republican governors across the country have treated labor, Corbett has negotiated with unions in good faith, in the weeks before the June 30th deadline for new deals.
Trumka, a western Pennsylvania native, said he isn’t impressed. “It’s a step up, but we still ought to be going in the same direction, to create jobs,” he said. “And we shouldn’t have everything off the table. You shouldn’t sign a pledge before you take office that say you’ll do no revenue enhancers, and then say, we don’t have the money for education, we don’t have the money to job create. That puts the public at a disadvantage.” He later added Corbett and House Republican leaders’ plan to bank $540 million of unexpected tax revenue in a rainy day fund, rather than spend it, “isn’t fair.”
How can a state government create jobs when it’s facing a multi-billion dollar structural deficit? Trumka, taking a page from Governor Rendell’s old playbook, said the answer is, “infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure,” explaining, “It puts people back to work, it makes us more competitive as a nation, and it ultimately makes us more environmentally sound. There’s retrofitting we can do to buildings that exist. We can put hundreds of thousands of people back to work retrofitting and greening buildings up. There’s money to be done with all of that.”
When a reporter floated the suggestion Republicans had won power in Pennsylvania and Washington by campaigning against the very government spending that’s needed for massive infrastructure projects, Trumka disagreed. “What they argued for is that they’re going to do job creation. …And now they’re doing everything but job creation. And that’s why their poll numbers are falling like a large rock in a deep pond.”
Other notable quotes from Trumka’s session with reporters: he said a “right to work” bill in front of the House, which would give public employees the right to opt out of unions, will never become law. Why? “Because we will stop it, and most people understand it’s a foolhardy thing. It results in lower wages for state workers – for everybody, private and public employees. What legislator actually wants to lower wages for people in the state, at a time when they’re struggling to get by?”
And finally, Trumka told the press he was at the DeWeese fundraiser due to “45 years of friendship.” We asked why he thought DeWeese won reelection, despite facing multiple corruption charges for allegedly conducting campaign work with state resources. Trumka chalked it up to years of dedicated service. “You can’t go to a township in his district – which happens to be my home district, by the way – where people haven’t been helped, because of Bill’s efforts,” he said. “He never forgot that. He probably knows that district better than anybody, and he’s probably talked to every constituent in that district at least once. He works hard.”
The Corbett Administration is in the midst of budget negotiations with 17 public employees unions, and wants state workers to accept four percent pay cuts and furlough days. But, in a departure from the way other Republican governors across the country have treated labor, Corbett has negotiated with unions in good faith, in the weeks before the June 30th deadline for new deals.
Trumka, a western Pennsylvania native, said he isn’t impressed. “It’s a step up, but we still ought to be going in the same direction, to create jobs,” he said. “And we shouldn’t have everything off the table. You shouldn’t sign a pledge before you take office that say you’ll do no revenue enhancers, and then say, we don’t have the money for education, we don’t have the money to job create. That puts the public at a disadvantage.” He later added Corbett and House Republican leaders’ plan to bank $540 million of unexpected tax revenue in a rainy day fund, rather than spend it, “isn’t fair.”
How can a state government create jobs when it’s facing a multi-billion dollar structural deficit? Trumka, taking a page from Governor Rendell’s old playbook, said the answer is, “infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure,” explaining, “It puts people back to work, it makes us more competitive as a nation, and it ultimately makes us more environmentally sound. There’s retrofitting we can do to buildings that exist. We can put hundreds of thousands of people back to work retrofitting and greening buildings up. There’s money to be done with all of that.”
When a reporter floated the suggestion Republicans had won power in Pennsylvania and Washington by campaigning against the very government spending that’s needed for massive infrastructure projects, Trumka disagreed. “What they argued for is that they’re going to do job creation. …And now they’re doing everything but job creation. And that’s why their poll numbers are falling like a large rock in a deep pond.”
Other notable quotes from Trumka’s session with reporters: he said a “right to work” bill in front of the House, which would give public employees the right to opt out of unions, will never become law. Why? “Because we will stop it, and most people understand it’s a foolhardy thing. It results in lower wages for state workers – for everybody, private and public employees. What legislator actually wants to lower wages for people in the state, at a time when they’re struggling to get by?”
And finally, Trumka told the press he was at the DeWeese fundraiser due to “45 years of friendship.” We asked why he thought DeWeese won reelection, despite facing multiple corruption charges for allegedly conducting campaign work with state resources. Trumka chalked it up to years of dedicated service. “You can’t go to a township in his district – which happens to be my home district, by the way – where people haven’t been helped, because of Bill’s efforts,” he said. “He never forgot that. He probably knows that district better than anybody, and he’s probably talked to every constituent in that district at least once. He works hard.”
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
State Workers Protest
A few dozen state workers gathered outside of Governor Tom Corbett's Pittsburgh office to hold a protest rally on Tuesday afternoon.
The workers were from SEIU 668, Pennsylvania Social Services Union. Many of the workers gathered were social workers with the Department of Public Welfare. They said that with each increasing year of cuts, their jobs get harder to do and the need gets larger.
"People from all walks of life utilize our services," said Jim Franciscus, who helped organize the protest.
The protesters were against Corbett's proposed financial cuts, including furloughs, cuts to schools, home health care services and medical assistance. They marched, waving signs and attracting attention on the busy city street.
The workers were from SEIU 668, Pennsylvania Social Services Union. Many of the workers gathered were social workers with the Department of Public Welfare. They said that with each increasing year of cuts, their jobs get harder to do and the need gets larger.
"People from all walks of life utilize our services," said Jim Franciscus, who helped organize the protest.
The protesters were against Corbett's proposed financial cuts, including furloughs, cuts to schools, home health care services and medical assistance. They marched, waving signs and attracting attention on the busy city street.
Major Upgrade for Mellon Square
Ground has been broken on an $8 million restoration project at Mellon Square in downtown Pittsburgh. Susan Rademacher, parks curator for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, says 55 years ago Mellon Square became the first modern garden plaza in the country built in conjunction with a parking garage....
"Cities like San Francisco had dug out underneath an old park and built a parking garage, but this (Mellon Square) was the first that was conceived of as one piece, one design, with a green roof garden for the public on top of levels of parking."
Rademacher says this was the precursor of the green roof movement and it was the first green space in downtown Pittsburgh even before Point State Park.
Today, the park is in a state of deterioration according to Rademacher because of a lack of regular maintenance. The Conservancy has reached a 30 year agreement with the city of Pittsburgh to provide day to day maintenance.
Phase 1 of the restoration project includes 2 signature pieces: the Cascade Fountain and a new terrace over the retail shops on Smithfield Street.
Rademacher says the mechanics of the fountain have not been replaced and as a result the fountain only works manually when a city employee is on site.
"We're going to put back all the automated controls so the fountain will be running all of the time. We're also going to restore the look and feel of the fountain to the original 1955 design which had a much lighter, more sparkling kind of appearance."
The new terrace will add 15% more usable space which she says will result inf intimate, relaxing green space for lunch and for enjoying the view of the fountain. The first phase will also include restoration of the entry staircases and the reinstallation of the ground level lighting and is to be completed in Spring of 2012.
Support for phase 1 comes from the Colcom Foundation and the Richard King Mellon Foundation. Rademacher says they are continuing fundraising for the completion phase and have received grants from the Heinz Endowments, BNY Mellon Foundation, the Benter Foundation, the Buhl Foundation, Eden Hall Foundation, and W.I. Patterson Charitable Fund.
"Cities like San Francisco had dug out underneath an old park and built a parking garage, but this (Mellon Square) was the first that was conceived of as one piece, one design, with a green roof garden for the public on top of levels of parking."
Rademacher says this was the precursor of the green roof movement and it was the first green space in downtown Pittsburgh even before Point State Park.
Today, the park is in a state of deterioration according to Rademacher because of a lack of regular maintenance. The Conservancy has reached a 30 year agreement with the city of Pittsburgh to provide day to day maintenance.
Phase 1 of the restoration project includes 2 signature pieces: the Cascade Fountain and a new terrace over the retail shops on Smithfield Street.
Rademacher says the mechanics of the fountain have not been replaced and as a result the fountain only works manually when a city employee is on site.
"We're going to put back all the automated controls so the fountain will be running all of the time. We're also going to restore the look and feel of the fountain to the original 1955 design which had a much lighter, more sparkling kind of appearance."
The new terrace will add 15% more usable space which she says will result inf intimate, relaxing green space for lunch and for enjoying the view of the fountain. The first phase will also include restoration of the entry staircases and the reinstallation of the ground level lighting and is to be completed in Spring of 2012.
Support for phase 1 comes from the Colcom Foundation and the Richard King Mellon Foundation. Rademacher says they are continuing fundraising for the completion phase and have received grants from the Heinz Endowments, BNY Mellon Foundation, the Benter Foundation, the Buhl Foundation, Eden Hall Foundation, and W.I. Patterson Charitable Fund.
PA Trans Commission Looking to Bridge Funding Gap
Governor Tom Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Commission has gotten a lot of attention, as it puts together suggestions on energy policy. But another panel is quietly working on policy recommendations for the Corbett Administration, too, and its report could have a bigger impact on Pennsylvanians’ daily lives.
The Transportation Funding Advisory Commission has a big challenge: it needs to figure out how to fill a multi-billion dollar funding gap, while working around Corbett’s vow to not increase taxes. PennDOT spokesman Dennis Buterbaugh says the commission recently listened to a presentation on tolling a stretch of Highway 422. “But,” he explained, “the commission is not going to make any decision on tolling a specific route, like 422. It was just a very good example of what’s involved, and could possibly, or possibly not, be a way to try and bridge some of this funding gap.”
Buterbaugh said the commission is also considering ways to save money. No suggestion, he said, is too narrow. “[Ideas] can be something as small as eliminating the little sticker – the annual registration sticker – on your license plate. That can save the commonwealth some money. Many states have taken that step because it’s really just an unnecessary step now.” Another possibility: extending drivers’ license renewal period. “Currently the driver’s license time is four years,” said Buterbaugh. “There’s been talk about possibly extending that, because again, that would be a cost-savings to the commonwealth. They won’t have to go through that process of processing someone’s driver’s license more than every four years, if they can go five years, six years, perhaps longer.”
The federal government’s rejection of an I-80 tolling scheme and other factors have led to a funding gap of more than three billion dollars. Last year, Governor Rendell convened a special legislative session to fill the hole, and called for an increased gasoline tax, among other ideas. None of his suggestions ever came to a vote.
The Transportation Funding Advisory Commission has a big challenge: it needs to figure out how to fill a multi-billion dollar funding gap, while working around Corbett’s vow to not increase taxes. PennDOT spokesman Dennis Buterbaugh says the commission recently listened to a presentation on tolling a stretch of Highway 422. “But,” he explained, “the commission is not going to make any decision on tolling a specific route, like 422. It was just a very good example of what’s involved, and could possibly, or possibly not, be a way to try and bridge some of this funding gap.”
Buterbaugh said the commission is also considering ways to save money. No suggestion, he said, is too narrow. “[Ideas] can be something as small as eliminating the little sticker – the annual registration sticker – on your license plate. That can save the commonwealth some money. Many states have taken that step because it’s really just an unnecessary step now.” Another possibility: extending drivers’ license renewal period. “Currently the driver’s license time is four years,” said Buterbaugh. “There’s been talk about possibly extending that, because again, that would be a cost-savings to the commonwealth. They won’t have to go through that process of processing someone’s driver’s license more than every four years, if they can go five years, six years, perhaps longer.”
The federal government’s rejection of an I-80 tolling scheme and other factors have led to a funding gap of more than three billion dollars. Last year, Governor Rendell convened a special legislative session to fill the hole, and called for an increased gasoline tax, among other ideas. None of his suggestions ever came to a vote.
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