Opponents of Penn Pike call for Obama, McCain to come out against handover of I-80

Opponents of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) are calling for the contending presidential candidates to come out against the handover of I-80. Evidence of this comes in a commentary by Nathan Benefield of the Commonwealth Foundation thinktank and Ryan Shafik of the Lincoln Institute for Public Opinion Research.

They write: "The tolling of I-80 is an issue that the both candidates should campaign strongly and visibly against. The plan for I-80 tolling has the hallmarks of what Senator McCain has been fighting against and the “change you can believe in” Senator Obama supports: a shady last minute deal that leaves taxpayers holding the bag, unsecured debt to keep the bi-partisan patronage machine alive, and blatant abuse of federal regulations of highways. Rejecting the proposed tolling of I-80 is by its very nature good-government reform."

Politicians and lobbyists of the interests opposed to the Turnpike takeover of I-80 are understood to be working on both presidential campaigns to take a position on the issue.

The arguments being used include the notion that tolls on I-80 will harm the economy of the corridor, and that the plan is deeply unpopular, but also that it represents a corrupt political deal of exactly the kind both campaigns are pledged to fight.

Benefield and Shafik stress this angle in their commentary:

"The plan to toll I-80 represents bi-partisan exploitation of a corrupt system at its worst. In 2007, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) used its political ties and lobbying machinations to enact a plan dramatically expanding their authority—allowing them to toll I-80, as well as increase Turnpike tolls without limit and incur billions of dollars in debt. Following an intense public relations effort—in which the PTC spent millions in toll dollars for lobbying expenditures and radio, TV, and newspaper ads across the state to promote its plan.

"This plan, Act 44 of 2007, passed with no committee hearings, no public discussions with lawmakers, and no opportunity for the public to weigh in on what became Act 44. There were no studies conducted on the impact of tolling I-80, though a 2005 PennDOT study that recommended against tolling I-80 was ignored. Only the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and their legislative patrons—were at the backroom table making the deal.

"The Turnpike Commission’s long history of patronage and corruption is well documented, most recently in state Senator Vincent Fumo’s federal indictment (detailing numerous instances of illegal activities tied to the Commission) and Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier’s acknowledged penchant for hiring family members.

"Recent revisions to the PTC’s plans to toll I-80 have dramatically increased the amount of debt to be paid off by tollpayers. Pennsylvania taxpayers and tollpayers will now be paying this debt for decades. Under no circumstances should the PTC be given any additional dominion over Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure." END EXCERPT

The presidential candidates would be most likely to take a position on the proposed handover of I-80 during visits to the state.

Meanwhile in Philadelphia in US District Court the trial started Monday of Senator Fumo the Turnpike Commission's major patron in the state legislature. Also up for trial is Ruth Arnao the wife of Mitchell Rubin, the Turnpike Commission chairman. They face between them close to 200 counts of thievery and corruption for stealing at least $3.5m, the amount US prosecutors say they can document.

Jury selection is expected to take most of this week, and the trial proper will begin to produce news next week.

TOLLROADSnews 2008-09-10