Appearing before the Senate Transportation Committee, Governor Edward Rendell told the Senators “we have to move, we have to move now” on addressing the Commonwealth’s transportation funding problem.  He noted that a Republican spokesman had commented that the legislature can wait until next year when a new governor takes office. Governor Rendell said, “We can’t.” He once again urged passage of an oil company excess profit tax and said he would support increasing the liquid fuels tax, increasing registration fees and increasing the oil franchise tax. Earlier this week,  Governor Rendell sent a letter to legislative leaders asking them to return to Harrisburg on August 23 to continue the Special Session on Transportation. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.

The Senate Transportation Committee conducted its third hearing on the issue of funding the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure. Today’s hearing concentrated on the issue of state funding for public transit. Representatives from local transit authorities including the Port Authority of Allegheny County and SEPTA presented testimony. Also participating were representatives from the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and the United Transportation Union. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.

The committee held the first in a series of statewide hearings on the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure and mass transit funding needs. Today the committee heard from PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler, the project manager for the Transportation Advisory Committee Transportation Funding Study Dennis Lebo, Elam Herr from the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, and Douglas Hill from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.  Chairman John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) said the committee will be conducting  a series of public hearings throughout the state to receive testimony from stakeholders and members of the public. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.