A weekly summary of important events on Capitol Hill
Provided by Rep. Mike Peifer (R-139)

Federal Government Fully Rejects Plan to Toll Interstate 80

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced last week that the federal government has denied Pennsylvania’s application to place tolls on Interstate 80.  This denial amounts to the third time in subsequent administrations that Pennsylvania has tried and failed to gain federal approval for tolling.  Many legislators along the I-80 corridor fought vigorously to keep the interstate toll-free.  The Legislature passed Act 44 of 2007, which aimed to raise at least $900 million a year to meet transportation needs across the state by raising tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and tolling I-80.  Now that I-80 will not be tolled, Gov. Ed Rendell is calling for a special session of the Legislature to focus solely on transportation funding needs.  Public-private partnerships, a concept championed by Transportation Committee Chairman Rick Geist (R-Altoona), along with other cost-cutting measures, including ensuring adequate local funding and competitive contracting, could all be considered to raise revenue for the state’s ailing infrastructure.  For the latest legislative news, visit PAHouseGOP.com.

Policy Committee Examines Feasibility of Public-Private Partnerships

Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-Mercer/Butler) hosted a hearing at Grove City College with the House Republican Policy Committee, chaired by Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York), to learn more about successful public-private partnerships.  Also known as P3s, the goal of these partnerships is to team private industry with government to more effectively manage or invest in an entity to provide the best possible value to the taxpayer.  Whether in use for transportation infrastructure, waste and wastewater projects, parks systems, prisons or public transit, testifiers at the hearing shared how P3s have worked favorably with both state and local governments.  Now that the federal government has denied tolls for Interstate 80, the use of P3s will be an integral focus of the soon-to-be-called special legislative session on transportation funding.  For the latest legislative news, visit PAHouseGOP.com.

Committee Holds Meeting on Water Issues and Marcellus Shale Drilling

Rep. Dave Reed (R-Indiana) held a public meeting in Indiana with the House Republican Policy Committee, led by Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York), to hear from experts about water issues surrounding drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale region.  Large amounts of water are used during the hydraulic fracturing process necessary to free natural gas from underground shale deposits.  The meeting focused on the use of water for hydraulic fracturing, the recovery process, as well as its treatment and cleansing before potentially being released back into local waterways.  For the latest energy related news, visit EnergyforPa.com.