legislature

The tumultuous end to the long reign of Paul Violette at the Maine Turnpike continues to see moves for changes in its governance. A bill in the legislature LD1538 would require the executive director to be approved by the state senate, require contracts for goods and services to be awarded by competitive bid, order more details in budgets, make removal of board directors easier, and send 5% of operating revenue to the state DOT.

The bill sponsored by state representative Richard Cebra (Repub, Naples) has 50 cosponsors. Cebra dubs his legislation the "Turnpike Restart Bill."

Prospects for toll projects in Arizona have brightened with easy passage of enabling legislation in the state House last week. HB2396 sponsored by house transportation committee chairman Rep Andy Biggs passed 53/1 last week. Parallel bills are moving in the state Senate (SB1261, SB1463).

Abertis which is leading the joint venture selected by the Rendell Administration to operate the Pennsylvania Turnpike under a longterm lease concession assesses the score in the state lower house at 47 in favor and 53 against, according to Joe Grata writing in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. He quotes Abertis US chief Jordi Graells as giving these numbers during a meeting with the newspaper's editorial board.

Turnpike Commission supporters in the Pennsylvania legislature made an odd move Wednesday - introducing a measure which if passed would have instructed the Governor and state ("Commonwealth") officials to execute the Concession and Lease Agreement announced May 19th. The move was easily defeated by 185 to 12.

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