DUBOIS – State Sen. Joe Scarnatti, R-25 Brockway, spoke before a nearly full house at the DuBois Country Club Friday morning.
He touched on a number of issues facing Pennsylvanians, including the proposed merger of Highmark Blue Cross and Independence Blue Cross, illegal immigration and the state’s budget.
One issue was on the mind of most gathered: the proposed tolling of Interstate 80.
The senator said that the genesis of Act 44 began in the United States Congress. He stated that Pennsylvania received the lowest increase in federal highway funds than any other state.
Then a bipartisan committee was formed to look at the funding shortfalls for roads, bridges and public transportation.
Scarnatti explained that Act 44 was approved by legislators because of pressure from Gov. Edward G. Rendell. He stated that Rendell flexed money from the transportation and highway fund for other projects and threatened to continue doing so until the act was passed.
Scarnatti was one of the area’s local representatives to vote in favor of the act.
“I’m not here to defend tolling,” said Scarnatti.
He added that he would vote to repeal the act, but that a viable alternative must be found before the governor would sign off on it. He said that the alternatives out there, leasing the Penna Turnpike or a gas tax increase were not acceptable.
Scarnatti said that he wanted to hear alternatives to tolling I-80, and that he would be willing to take viable alternatives to Harrisburg.
Jeb Soult of Clearfield presented a number of items in the budget and the amount of money allocated to certain programs. He recommended that the money in those programs be diverted to roads and bridges. Soult said that the state needs to start looking at where the money is going before they chase businesses out of the state
Scarnatti countered, saying that this senate has its arms around spending more so than other senates.
“We did reduce spending in half from the previous four years,” said Scarnatti.
One person in the crowd said that if tolling was the best of the worst-case scenarios to fix the funding shortfall, then the state should look at where they want to put the tolling plazas. He suggested placing them near the state’s casinos and horse tracks, current and future.
“The only people that are going to pay the toll are going to drop their money anyway,” said the man.
The room erupted into applause ad laughter at the suggestion, Scarnatti as well.
“I love your thinking on that,” replied Scarnatti.
Sam Lansberry of Lansberry Trucking in Woodland said that at the last meeting of the PA Motor Truck Association, the association was willing to release the cap on the fuel franchise tax. That would only tax diesel trucks.
“This is what I’m looking for,” remarked Scarnatti. “Solutions.”
Scarnatti urged Lansberry and the association to send him their recommendation.
Before tolling can take place, the federal government must approve the plan. Scarnatti said that he heard there is a 50 percent chance it will not be approved.