The General Asembly Fiddles as Time Runs Out for Long Overdue Major Initiatives

Ominous developments are brewing in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. There is a danger that two noble and key initiatives will languish, failing to be passed into law by the time our "leaders" embark upon a long summer recess after passing a budget.

It is interesting that liquor sale privatization is being held up in the State Senate while transportation funding appears to be stalled in the House.  If neither measure should make it to the governor’s desk, it will be a black eye not only for him and his ability to persuade or twist arms, but for the Republican Party, which controls not only the governor’s seat but the legislative branch.

At long last and after numerous failed prior attempts, the State House decisively voted to get the Commonwealth out of the liquor business, something which Governor Corbett has appropriately stated is not a core function of state government.  The Senate threatens to undo the  action of the House as numerous alternate plans are proposed, including ineffective, inadequate legislation to “modernize” rather than to sell off the system.

The epiphany Governor Corbett has laudably undergone vis-à-vis the appropriation of additional monies for transportation helped to bring about overwhelming approval of an ambitious Senate plan to spend  $2.5 billion per year for road and bridge maintenance and public transit.  There is a great deal in this legislation for all: city, suburban, and rural lawmakers, but the House is balking, failing to display the fortitude needed to enact what some members fear will be tagged as a major tax increase.  If a tax or fee hike is needed to keep traffic moving safely and efficiently over the state’s roads and bridges, would it not be appropriate to impose it?  Do we support the penny-wise and pound-foolish approach, which in the coming days will trigger numerous weight restrictions on structurally-deficient bridges if funding continues to be stagnant?

Although time is now short for these initiatives to be enacted by the end of this month, there has been plenty of opportunity to arrive at agreements as both of these issues have been on the table for years.  There is no excuse for further delay or study.