abolish

Gov Ed Rendell has suggested to legislative leaders that they consider disbanding the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, turning over control of the Turnpike to the state department of transportation. This proposal came in a telephone conference call Tuesday according to local press reports.

Rendell has long fought with the Turnpike so there is an element of political payback in his proposal. But he suggested this week that the Turnpike Commission's abolition would save taxpayer money and strengthen the state budget.

After weeks of leaks, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has publicly put his case for abolition of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA). Published in the Boston Globe (op-ed page Nov 13) the Governor says previous administrations saddled the Turnpike with unsupportable debt, handed out jobs based on patronage, diverted capital funds for current salaries, and left no viable plan for the future.