I am still rolling with laughter over the op-ed penned by Rep. Joanna McClinton, “Federal bill invests in Pa.; state legislative leaders need to do the same” (Nov. 22, TribLIVE). What nerve.
First of all, our so-called leaders invest nothing in Pennsylvania; they use taxpayer dollars to pay for the programs they believe will buy them the most votes — after they first pay for their inflated salaries, perks and benefits that the average Pennsylvanian can only dream about.
Remember how helpful the legislators have been in reducing property taxes with the money gambling was to provide? We see record revenues from gambling: How far have your property taxes been reduced? Outrageous taxes on gasoline were supposed to pay for road and bridge repairs, yet PennDOT says it needs to toll bridges to pay for their upkeep. We don’t even need to mention the Pennsylvania Turnpike. How much will it cost to travel end to end once all the increases are in place?
McClinton’s op-ed simply pointed out that our legislators are salivating over the anticipated federal dollars that will come pouring in to rebuild what our state tax dollars were supposedly already doing. If McClinton is serious, she should give us an accounting of where the gambling revenues are going. Please tell us what our exorbitant gas tax is paying for and finally, please give the turnpike to the federal government so that we can once again afford to use it.
Please legislators, no more pie-in-the-sky rhetoric. Actions speak louder than words. So far, it has all been words and empty promises.
Jack Driscoll
Latrobe