After Pennsylvania lawmakers agreed on a budget deal that did not include a new stream of money for SEPTA and with another budget cycle just months away, mass transit funding remains a “top priority” for Democrats moving forward, the chair of a key House committee says.
“It is something that we must do,” Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia), who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, told NBC10. “It is not an option for us and although there is a temporary fix, we cannot, should not and will not continue to kick the can down the road. It must happen.”
Securing recurring funding for SEPTA and other mass transit agencies in the state was a big part of the budget conversation through the summer, but it did not make it into the final deal.
In interviews airing this weekend on NBC10 @Issue and streaming on Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, Harris and Senator Tracy Pennycuick (R-Pa.), who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, discuss the budget that lawmakers passed, and what could be ahead.
Regarding the future of recurring funding for SEPTA, Pennycuick pointed to the potential for new revenue, including regulating and taxing so-called “skill games.”
“I think that you’re going to see reoccurring funding either come through skill games or some other initiatives that we’re working on that aren’t quite ready for prime time,” Pennycuick said. “We want to see SEPTA have recurring funding but with that funding also comes the responsibility of operating responsibly and efficiently and using every dollar to the maximum effectiveness possible while keeping their employees safe. That is the number one thing.”
Governor Josh Shapiro proposed regulating and taxing skill games in his initial budget proposal, but a deal to bring that fruition never materialized in Harrisburg.
“I think the problem is we can’t seem to come to an agreement on what each terminal is going to cost, what each operator’s license is going to cost, and what the tax rate is,” said Pennycuick, saying the issue is complicated, including the impact on small businesses and nonprofits that may have them in their locations.
Where the money would go from any skill games revenue is still “in negotiation,” she said.
“I think it should go not only to SEPTA but also to roads and bridges. I think that’s the reality, it has to be for both,” she said.
Harris put the responsibility on the state Senate to send over legislation on skill games.
“This is what they said they wanted to do and so we’re gonna, we’re looking to the state senate to take up skill games and send us a piece of legislation to deal with it,” Harris said.
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