PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE: …Despite Republican control of the Senate and House, Republican Gov. Tom Corbett was unable to get lawmakers to approve either of his key issues by June 30, the budget deadline and fiscal year-end. Budget deadlines typically give governors some leverage on issues, but not this time…
Bills to raise money for bridges, highways and mass transit become harder to push through the closer it gets to an election, analysts say. By October, it’ll be “impossible,” [Joe DiSarro, chairman of the political science department at Washington & Jefferson College predicts. Lifting the cap on the wholesale gasoline tax to generate revenue “is a tax increase,” he said…
It is necessary, and the political fallout probably would not be significant, he said, but lawmakers will look ahead to 2014 campaigns starting in January and, for many, voting for tax increases would be out of the question… (more)
Many of the Republicans are RINO’s (Republicans In Name Only). Until real Republican are elected, progress will be halted.