Senate Republicans Try To Stop Bridge Tolling

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Republicans in Pennsylvania’s Senate are trying to make Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration start over on its plans to toll up to nine major bridges. They approved a bill Tuesday to require PennDOT to first secure approval from the Legislature. The bill passed 28-19, with the backing of every Republican and one Democrat. Republicans contend that the process leading to PennDOT’s announcement in February has lacked transparency and was never envisioned by lawmakers when they created the Public-Private Transportation Partnership Board in 2012. Democrats say Republicans are failing their obligations to fund transportation needs and say PennDOT’s initiative was squarely within the scope of 2012’s law. Wolf’s administration opposes the bill.