Letter to the editor: Turnpike as government's cash cow

The editorial “Make E-ZPass easier for low-income drivers” (April 3, TribLIVE) brings to light facts that should make our blood boil. It points out that legislators started to force the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in 2007 to start paying the state for the government, mass transit and the Department of Transportation as well as supporting its own expenses of operations, construction and maintenance. This has forced the commission to borrow $450 million a year for those added mandate payments. Let me say that again: borrow $450 million a year.

How do they do that? By raising tolls for the 15th consecutive year! The Pennsylvania Turnpike is the most expensive toll road in the United States, and maybe the world. For those of us who use this toll road, it is not fair that we should pay for the legislative body’s inability to govern and collect revenue appropriately for its programs and not single out a steady cash cow of revenue.

Let the turnpike commission manage itself. Yes, they have had issues as well, but to pile on what I call a state tax on a state agency is proof that the current and past legislators cannot manage money and take the easy way out.

Ron Giuliana

North Huntingdon