Posted on 11/25/2013 6:35:48 AM PST by Nextrush
Republican Governor Tom Corbett, who announced he's running for re-election next year, likes to tell Pennsylvanians he hasn't raised taxes. He ran for office four years ago saying he wouldn't raise taxes.
But that's exactly what he is doing today when he signs a "transportation funding bill" to fix roads and bridges along with subsidizing public transportation systems (especially in the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh areas).
The bill replaces an out in the open 12 cent a gallon gas tax at the pump with a backroom tax on gas at its wholesale price. It also raises registration fees for vehicles in the state with commercial vehicle registration being steeply affected.
The take for the state of PA should eventually reach over 2 billion dollars per year from taxpayers pockets.
The effect of it will be to raise the price of gasoline in Pennsylvania by 28 cents a gallon in the next five years.
The bill is being described as the second largest tax increase in Pennsylvania history.
This legislation made it through the state legislature controlled by Republicans when leadership of both parties convinced many long serving members to vote for the plan.
It was closer in Pennsylvania's state's House with an early vote opposing the tax hike, but in the end the first vote was reversed and the proposal went to a governor eager to sign it.
Talk is that legislators were promised that some of the money raised would end up being spent on "projects" in their districts.
The legislation creates a special 40 million dollar fund that the state's transportation secretary will spend after "consultation" with legislative leaders.
When the bill passed the legislature, it was hailed by Republican Governor Tom Corbett as "bipartisan" and supported by both "business and labor".
And why not, businesses will benefit and labor unions will benefit at taxpayer expense and some of the money they get will no doubt be "kicked back" to the politicians in campaign contributions.
This is Pennsylvania's business as usual political system in action and a thorough housecleaning is needed.
If this is what Republicans and Democrats end up giving us in this state, perhaps it seriously is third party time?????
The laws of the state are rigged against third parties, but we still have the write-in option in our voting machines, Mr. Corbett.....
I'm not voting for these corrupt RINO's in this state ever again.
The one's who voted NO (many of them) were at least more afraid of us than the armtwisting governor and legislative leaders, but they won't distance themselves from the RINO's.
Vote for new blood in the primaries, a third party if the restrictive laws can be overcome, or write-in candidates if that fails.
The result of this will be a Democrat Governor and ever-bigger tax hikes in the future. Thanks, Tom!
out of control pensions
out of control unions
out of control federal mandates
1 rino governor
I guess they are not getting enough revenue from all the energy exploration in the state.
The beast must be fed.
Pennsylvania went 52/46 for Obama. They should be happy about this.
bttt
was he down to 20% approval ratings before he sign this?
You have Philly and you have Pittsburgh proper…..and until you de-annex them, or secede, you will be governed liberally. Period. It’ not Corbett per se….it’s the reality of Pennsyvlania.
I’m not supporting Corbett, nor slamming him. But PA is what PA is. Period.
Aand he is the most conservative Republican governor Pa can get thanks to the Philly suburbs. Oh well, this is another reason why he should not run again. He is looking like the first losing incumebent governor in the states history any way.
Back in rhe 1990’sTom Ridge used to be packaged as a “fiscal conservative” when he was governor and the same thing happened, but it was only 3 cents a gallon and a vehicle registration hike.
This a big massive thing that only be described as pork and a Pennsylvania version of Obama’s “stimulus” using highway repairs.
Corbett was having a rough time between allegations he was cutting school funding from the teachers unions (not true).
He’s increased spending a bit for education. And then there was the massive emotional issue of Jerry Sandusky and the effect of his case on Penn State football and Joe Paterno.
Obama and the Democrats even have his son Jay Paterno running for Congress as their candidate in the district that includes the university campus and surrounding areas.
This is political suicide for Governor Corbett, but I think he’s counting on campaign contributions from business for signing this tax hike and hopes he can use that money to sell himself to victory.
If the revenue will indeed go where he says, I don’t think it will hurt him. The roads in Pennsylvania are in deplorable condition.
At least it’s not going for vote-buying or more entitlements.
The Supreme Court of PA delayed the redrawing of PA legislative districts until next year’s election, meaning that the more conservative areas do not increase their representation until the 2014 elections.
The result will be radical Democratic Governor Kathleen Kane who openly supports Gay Marriage.
Corbett is the only choice for R’s and he knows it.
That’s why he could shove this bailout for unionized city bus drivers down his rural base’s throat.
Progressive republican raises taxes and those in his state love him for it. “Thank you for the beating... may I have another”.
RINO’s are Democrats in all but name
Someone in PA still thinks they have options at their voting boxes?
Now there’s a story
“At least it’s not going for vote-buying or more entitlements.”
If I recall...a large chunk of it goes directly into the general fund, so...yeah. heh. Not likely.
It will make our gas taxes among the highest in the nation.
This is an outrage.
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