Politics & Government

Senators Talk Corbett, Transportation, State Stores

Boscola, Browne and Mensch answer questions at Chamber event.

Speaking to members of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Friday, state Sen. Lisa Boscola recalled a governor nicknamed "One-Term Tom."

She was referring to former Governor Tom Ridge, who took office in 1995, the same year she joined the legislature. But Boscola -- joined by fellow Lehigh Valley state Senators Pat Browne and Bob Mensch -- told the story in response to a question from the audience at the Four Points Sheraton near the Lehigh Valley International Airport:

Is it significant that Governor Tom Corbett hasn't seen more legislation passed during his term so far?

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"Every goveror I've seen…they all have problems in the first several months," said Boscola, D-18. 

She thinks it has as much to do with getting established as anything else. 

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“By the end of June, you’re going to have a lot of pieces of legislation on his desk for him to sign," she said.

Boscola, Browne, R-16 and Mensch, R-24 had taped an episode of the WFMZ talk show "Business Matters" earlier in the day.  The chamber luncheon was essentially a repeat of that session, with Business Matters host Tony Iannelli and chamber members questioning the trio on the budget, transportation, and whether Pennsylvania should privatize its liquor stores.

It was on that matter that the three senators seemed to differ the most. 

Mensch wouldn't give a yes or no answer to whether he supported the idea of selling off the liquor stores, stating simply "We have to look at the economics...I will go with the numbers." 

Mensch did say that the sale would generate "20 years worth of revenue in year zero," while Boscola said she was concerned about the state selling off its assets.

Browne supports the idea, noting that the state is already moving toward privatization on things like wine kiosks. He got some rueful chuckles from the audience by noting that Pennsylvania was joined with Utah in being the only two states in the nation that don't have privately-owned liquor stores.

The senators also took questions from the audience about the DEP, the budget, and transportation. 

Noting Pennsylvania's notoriously bad roads , the Boscola raised the notion of tolling some roads. 

Mensch said the state needs to start putting away money to pay for its roads.

"We've never saved any money for transporation," he said. :We always react."

 


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