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melranaway t1_j9z5rdm wrote

Reply to comment by ktxhopem3276 in is there a reason why the citizens of Pennsylvania allow utilities to be so high? by Cute_Platypus_5989

I think the outrage belongs to the legendary gas tax installed by the Corbett era (republican) and increased two more times during the Wolfe (democrat) era. It’s the added tax to the gas pump. It was touted as a tax to fix our roads and bridges when they passed it… instead 4.3 billion went to the pensions of the state police. 4.3 billion.

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ktxhopem3276 t1_j9z8nxf wrote

>I think the outrage belongs to the legendary gas tax installed by the Corbett era (republican) and increased two more times during the Wolfe (democrat) era.

Wolfe didn’t increase the gas tax. Those were automatic increases from the Corbett law

> It’s the added tax to the gas pump. It was touted as a tax to fix our roads and bridges when they passed it… instead 4.3 billion went to the pensions of the state police. 4.3 billion.

That’s not entirely accurate. The $4.3b is the entire state police budget over several years. Democrats proposed changing the law to charge rural areas state police user fees. Regardless, that 4.3b is only ten percent of the entire pendot budget so it isn’t the only factor affecting pendot budget issues. Some issues are

decades of lower taxes and deferred maintenance has created a massive backlog

more state miles of roads per capita than almost every other state in the country

located in climate zone that has some of the most frequent freeze thaw cycles leading to defrosting roads

State is especially susceptible to landslides that destroy road

Anemic population growth but same amount of roads

Elderly population doesn’t pay income tax.

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melranaway t1_j9z9egn wrote

I know Wolfe didn’t increase it bc it was set to increase the two times during his tenure bc of Corbett. Wolfe also could’ve put a stop to it.

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ktxhopem3276 t1_j9z9qvd wrote

Wolfe can’t rewrite the law. If the automatic increases are written into the law by the legislature and the law is signed by a previous governor, he has no authority to stop the increase without breaking the law.

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melranaway t1_j9z9l87 wrote

Also 4.3 billion went to pensions and not the roads/bridges.

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ktxhopem3276 t1_j9zaad5 wrote

That $4.3 billion was for operations of state police and not just retirees pensions. It was over ten years and amounted to only ten percent of pendot s budget over that time period

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melranaway t1_j9zay85 wrote

You have proof about the budget? When they did the audit a few years back that’s when they discovered the 4.3 billion went to pensions. That was in the papers, radio, and news. It was a pretty big story that upset a lot. As for Wolfe re writing laws. Understand that. He could’ve brought it out more into a public focus and put the lime light on his fellow Republican lawmakers who chose to make such a crappy tax.

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ktxhopem3276 t1_j9zbz8w wrote

https://www.paauditor.gov/press-releases/auditor-general-depasquale-penndot-audit-finds-4-2-billion-diverted-from-repairing-roads-bridges

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/04/penndot-audit-finds-425-billion-diverted-from-repairing-pa-roads-bridges-auditor-general.html?outputType=amp

https://www.tribdem.com/news/wolf-calls-for-plan-to-wean-state-off-gas-tax/article_ab7ffb92-cfca-5233-982f-13c98a71869c.html

https://www.pachamber.org/media/3886/lawmakers_call_for_federal_and_state_gas_tax_relief/

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melranaway t1_j9zbdi5 wrote

So the issue is if you promote something. Say it’s going for one thing. Let’s say for example the roads. Then you turn around and use it for another thing… wouldn’t that fall under a false tense? A type of fraud to the public?

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ktxhopem3276 t1_j9zczq8 wrote

I never said it wasnt fraudulent. I’m just pointing out it was only one small part of a giant mess

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melranaway t1_j9zb58e wrote

How come Vermont has stellar roads? Shoot just driving over the border on route 29 you can feel the massive difference. I think they might get a little bit more extreme weather then we do in Pa?

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ktxhopem3276 t1_j9zcubt wrote

PA has more freeze thaw cycles than Vermont. Places that stay below freezing most of winter actually have less road damage than places that fluctuate constantly near the freezing point.

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