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Monroe, Luzerne County, PA April 22, 2008 Election
Smart Voter

New tolls and turnpike privitization

By PJ Best

Candidate for State Representative; District 118; Democratic Party

This information is provided by the candidate
Most Pennsylvanians feel that tolls on Interstate 80 will hurt businesses that run along the highway. So why is our current legislature pushing so hard for them?
Companies located along the interstate will see higher costs for goods coming in and going out, and those delivering them will likely divert to New York to avoid the toll fee. These tolls will have a disastrous effect in central Pennsylvania, where the interstate is the only practical route of travel.

U.S. Rep. John Peterson has even referred to this plan as "the most ill-conceived piece of legislation in decades." and stated that "[his] fear is it will just kill any potential growth we have in Pennsylvania."

The issue also affects people that may not travel on I-80. Go to the grocery store and look at the prices of produce. Do the prices look higher than a week ago? A month? Just imagine how much the prices will go up when the interstate is tolled. The cost of shipping will increase and this cost will be passed onto you, the consumer.

Privatization of the turnpike will hurt Pennsylvania in the same manner. If a private company takes control of the turnpike, tolls will increase immensely. This company will make a profit - at your expense!

The legislature says that these tolls will be used to fix the roads and bridges. Can we take their word for it? Look how they're spending the current gas tax which was meant for the SOLE PURPOSE of infrastructure repair:

  • $3 million to welcome centers
  • $3 million to the Dept of Weights and Measures.
  • $14 million to the Dept of Revenue to collect liquid fuel tax.
  • $500 million to the state police which makes up of 73% of its budget
  • $15 million to Dept of Revenue to collect liquid fuel tax.
  • $6 million to the Office of the Budget.
  • $17 million for the statewide radio system.
  • $4 million plant maintenance.
  • $6 million for state police patrols on the Schuykill Expressway which used to be paid by Philadelphia police.

For every dollar the federal government collects in gas tax, the state gets back $1.15. That money is also supposed to be used for roads, but during the last two years, according to Rep Mario Scavello, "Governor Rendell has sent $490 million to Philadelphia & Pittsburg to fix their mass transit system".

We must stop these tolls. This is nothing more than a domino gate. First 80 then 81, 84, and 380. When will this stop?

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