By Francis Scarcella
LEWISBURG — Why Gov. Ed Rendell included projected revenue from Interstate 80 tolls that don't exist in his 2010-11 state budget baffles a congressman representing the Valley.
"I don't know what he was thinking," U.S. Rep. Chris Carney said Friday of his fellow Democrat. "His thinking was very premature."
Rendell includes $450 million in revenue derived from proposed tolls on Interstate 80 in a $29 billion plan that increases state spending by 4 percent, or $1.1 billion.
The Valley "” by way of the unpopular tolls proposal "” shouldn't have to bail out the state, Carney said.
"I don't know why they think this money should come from us," Carney said. "They won't solve the state's problem on our backs."
Toll advocates, especially in the Philadelphia area, are waiting for the tolling to pass in order to reap some of the profits.
"Philadelphia is waiting for revenue from tolling and I'm not sure what they are thinking," Carney said. "We won't stand for any of this."
Not that anyone may have to.
Carney, of Dimock, said the state has twice failed to have the Federal Highway Administration approve the placement of tolls on I-80, "and failed both times," he said.
The proposal, from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, remains before the FHWA, which Carney expects will soon reject the idea again.
"The third time it should be forever," he said, adding that he is "very optimistic that we will see a decision that will dis-allow the tolls" within a month.
Carney did stress the importance of re-instating toll credits.
"We are working very hard to have a letter signed that will bring these toll credits back," he said.
States earn toll credits for spending money to improve toll roads, such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Federal legislation used to allow the use of toll credits as state matching funds for Highway System projects.
"With these coming back, it will give Harrisburg no reason to pass the I-80 tolls," he said. "Let (Senators) Arlen Specter and Bob Casey know that we want to get this toll credit problem fixed. Write to them, call them, get it out there."
Carney spoke before 200 people at a joint legislative breakfast hosted by the Central Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce and the Great Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce.
