Current:Home > ContactNovaQuant-Governor’s plan to boost mass transit aid passes Pennsylvania House, but faces long odds in Senate -ProfitSphere Academy
NovaQuant-Governor’s plan to boost mass transit aid passes Pennsylvania House, but faces long odds in Senate
TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-11 09:11:09
HARRISBURG,NovaQuant Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives on Wednesday approved Gov. Josh Shapiro’s plan to boost funding for public transportation systems still trying to recover pre-pandemic ridership numbers and facing a drop-off in funding when federal COVID-19 aid runs out.
The Democratic-controlled chamber voted 106-95, with all but one Democrat in favor, and all but five Republicans opposing it.
The bill would deliver an increase of about 20% in state aid to public transportation systems, proposed by the Democratic governor in his budget plan earlier this year. However, the bill faces long odds in the Republican-controlled Senate, with Republicans protesting the amount of the funding increase and objecting to procedures that House Democrats used to pass the bill.
Under the bill, the state would increase the share of state sales tax collections devoted to public transit agencies from 4.4% of receipts to 6.15%. That would translate to an estimated increase of $283 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year on top of the $1.3 billion going to transit agencies this year.
About two-thirds of the state aid goes to the Philadelphia-area Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, and another 20% goes to Pittsburgh Regional Transit. The rest goes to 29 public transportation systems around Pennsylvania.
The bill also excuses transit agencies from a 15% fund-matching requirement for five years.
Democrats defended the increase as an economic good and necessary to keep transit systems from cutting services or increasing fares.
“This is going to benefit all of us, and it’s going to keep Pennsylvania moving,” said Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware.
House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, called the bill a “mass transit bailout.” The size of the subsidy increase is “eye-popping,” Cutler said, and he suggested that more funding won’t fix the things that are ailing public transit systems, including lagging ridership, rising fuel costs and high-profile incidents of crime.
“There are structural problems in mass transit systems that funding alone will not solve,” Cutler said.
Cutler’s criticisms echoed those in the past by Senate Republicans. In a statement Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, said simply that Senate Republicans haven’t agreed to pass the bill.
Republicans also protested that the bill could be found unconstitutional by a court after the public transit provisions were inserted into a bill created for an entirely different purpose. Senate Republicans wrote the original bill to give landowners an income tax deduction for the use of natural gas, coal, oil or other natural deposits on their land.
Public transportation authorities across the U.S. have yet to fully recover their ridership after it dropped off during the pandemic and mass transit advocates say systems lack the revenue to avoid service cuts when federal COVID-19 relief aid runs out.
In addition, they say, operating costs have grown, with inflation that hit a four-decade high in 2022 and rising wages and fuel prices.
__
Follow Marc Levy: http://twitter.com/timelywriter
veryGood! (7)
Related
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- NWSL kicks off its 12th season this weekend, with two new teams and new media deal
- Michigan fires basketball coach, 'Fab Five' legend Juwan Howard after five seasons
- ‘It was the life raft’: Transgender people find a safe haven in Florida’s capital city
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Reneé Rapp Details Most Rewarding Experience of Her Coming Out Journey
- Recall issued for Insignia air fryers from Best Buy due to 'fire, burn, laceration' concerns
- Tornadoes have left a trail of destruction in the central US. At least 3 are dead in Ohio
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett mourning death of his younger brother, Nathan Barrett
Ranking
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- AFP says Kensington Palace is no longer trusted source after Princess Kate photo editing
- California could ban Flamin' Hot Cheetos and other snacks in schools under new bill
- Amazon’s Big Spring Sale Is Coming! Score Early Deals, like This $179 Facial Steamer for Just $29 & More
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- Exclusive: Social Security chief vows to fix cruel-hearted overpayment clawbacks
- TikTok could draw a range of bidders, but deal would face major hurdles
- Vikings land first-round NFL draft pick in trade with Texans, adding ammo for possible QB move
Recommendation
'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
Truck driver charged with negligent homicide in deadly super fog 168-car pileup in Louisiana
Newly discovered giant turtle fossil named after Stephen King character
California proposes delaying rules aimed at reducing water on lawns, concerning environmentalists
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
'Absolutely wackadoodle': Mom wins $1.4 million after using kids' birthdates as lottery numbers
New York City St. Patrick's Day parade 2024: Date, time, route, how to watch live
Petco CEO Ron Coughlin steps down, ex-BestBuy exec named as replacement