Gabler Attacks I-80 Toll Efforts
HARRISBURG - An attempt to bring to a vote an amendment offered by state Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) that would have removed the authorization to implement tolls on Interstate 80 was blocked Wednesday through efforts spearheaded by House Democrats. By a 106-87 vote, the amendment was ruled out of order, thus preventing it from actually being considered on the House floor.
Gabler issued the following statement in response to the vote:
"I am disappointed that my House colleagues chose to employ parliamentary gamesmanship in stonewalling my effort to remove the threat of tolling of Interstate 80. Rather than doing the people's business and taking action to help our local economy, opponents of this amendment chose to hide from this important debate. Those of us who live in districts adjacent to the interstate know how detrimental tolling would be to the surrounding communities and how detrimental that threat has already been.
"My constituents clearly understand that Interstate 80 is the lifeblood of our local economy. The outcry from the people of the 75th District has not died since last session when this chamber passed Act 44, which authorized the Turnpike Commission to toll Interstate 80.
"Hearings have been held virtually the length of the interstate by the House Republican Policy Committee, and testimony has been taken from people who will feel the effects of the tolling scheme firsthand. Many employers came forward to say the threat of tolling has had a chilling effect on their operations, and certainly any pending expansion that they may like to undertake.
"My district includes Elk County, which has the distinction of having lost the highest percentage of jobs in Pennsylvania in the second half of 2008, according to the state Department of Labor and Industry. In fact, preliminary numbers by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics show Elk County at a shocking 13.2 percent unemployment rate for February 2009.
"The people of the 75th District rely heavily on the manufacturing sector. Our local jobs depend on making a product and transporting it to market in a competitive manner. If a factory finds that it is more expensive to do business here than somewhere else, it will take its business elsewhere. If a company is looking for a place to locate an operation and create jobs, it will do so where it is cost-effective to do so.
"With the threat of tolling remaining a distinct possibility, job creators are hesitant to tie themselves to our region. Our entire economic situation nationwide is largely a problem of confidence. Removing the threat of tolling Interstate 80 is the single biggest thing we can do to create confidence in our area.
"The message sent by those who threw up this legislative roadblock is clear- their vote for unconstitutionality was a vote in favor of the economically crippling Act 44. Wednesday's proceedings are disappointing but not discouraging. I vow to continue my efforts to prevent this damaging plan from being enacted upon my constituents."
State Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion) also weighed in on Wednesday's decision.
"Based on yesterday's largely partisan vote, apparently 106 members of the state House believe that eliminating this potential 49 cents per mile tax on Pennsylvania motorists and employers along the I-80 corridor is unconstitutional," said Oberlander. "Just like the original plan to toll Interstate 80, this is old-school Harrisburg politics at its worst.
"Once again the Pennsylvania House squandered a golden opportunity to actually begin to address the significant short and long term problems surrounding our Commonwealth's crumbling infrastructure which is the result of decades of poor decision making, bad management and clumsy planning by state government across the board. It has nothing to do with a lack of funding. I applaud Representative Gabler for taking the lead in standing up for the manufacturers, trucking companies, distributors, family-owned businesses and individual Pennsylvania motorists who will carry the heaviest weight of the burden if the tolling of I-80 ever becomes reality," Oberlander added.
Gabler issued the following statement in response to the vote:
"I am disappointed that my House colleagues chose to employ parliamentary gamesmanship in stonewalling my effort to remove the threat of tolling of Interstate 80. Rather than doing the people's business and taking action to help our local economy, opponents of this amendment chose to hide from this important debate. Those of us who live in districts adjacent to the interstate know how detrimental tolling would be to the surrounding communities and how detrimental that threat has already been.
"My constituents clearly understand that Interstate 80 is the lifeblood of our local economy. The outcry from the people of the 75th District has not died since last session when this chamber passed Act 44, which authorized the Turnpike Commission to toll Interstate 80.
"Hearings have been held virtually the length of the interstate by the House Republican Policy Committee, and testimony has been taken from people who will feel the effects of the tolling scheme firsthand. Many employers came forward to say the threat of tolling has had a chilling effect on their operations, and certainly any pending expansion that they may like to undertake.
"My district includes Elk County, which has the distinction of having lost the highest percentage of jobs in Pennsylvania in the second half of 2008, according to the state Department of Labor and Industry. In fact, preliminary numbers by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics show Elk County at a shocking 13.2 percent unemployment rate for February 2009.
"The people of the 75th District rely heavily on the manufacturing sector. Our local jobs depend on making a product and transporting it to market in a competitive manner. If a factory finds that it is more expensive to do business here than somewhere else, it will take its business elsewhere. If a company is looking for a place to locate an operation and create jobs, it will do so where it is cost-effective to do so.
"With the threat of tolling remaining a distinct possibility, job creators are hesitant to tie themselves to our region. Our entire economic situation nationwide is largely a problem of confidence. Removing the threat of tolling Interstate 80 is the single biggest thing we can do to create confidence in our area.
"The message sent by those who threw up this legislative roadblock is clear- their vote for unconstitutionality was a vote in favor of the economically crippling Act 44. Wednesday's proceedings are disappointing but not discouraging. I vow to continue my efforts to prevent this damaging plan from being enacted upon my constituents."
State Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion) also weighed in on Wednesday's decision.
"Based on yesterday's largely partisan vote, apparently 106 members of the state House believe that eliminating this potential 49 cents per mile tax on Pennsylvania motorists and employers along the I-80 corridor is unconstitutional," said Oberlander. "Just like the original plan to toll Interstate 80, this is old-school Harrisburg politics at its worst.
"Once again the Pennsylvania House squandered a golden opportunity to actually begin to address the significant short and long term problems surrounding our Commonwealth's crumbling infrastructure which is the result of decades of poor decision making, bad management and clumsy planning by state government across the board. It has nothing to do with a lack of funding. I applaud Representative Gabler for taking the lead in standing up for the manufacturers, trucking companies, distributors, family-owned businesses and individual Pennsylvania motorists who will carry the heaviest weight of the burden if the tolling of I-80 ever becomes reality," Oberlander added.
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Comments
So Basically Matty Gabler wants to reform Harrisburg but not obey the state constitution and state law.