OOIDA Call to Action - Pennsylvania Members
May 24, 2004

Attention: Pennsylvania truckers! It is important that all residents of the state tired of the escalating cost of driving the Pennsylvania Turnpike show their support for two bills in the state House that would make it more difficult to enact toll increases.

HB2404, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Habay, R-Shaler, would halt any toll increase by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

Under HB2343, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Petrarca, D-Vandergift, all turnpike toll increases would be subject to approval by the General Assembly.

Both bills were introduced in response to the commission's decision earlier this year to increase tolls by about 42 percent effective Aug. 1. Under current state law, the commission doesn't need legislative approval to enact toll increases.

The bills have met opposition in the House from State Government Committee Chairman Paul Clymer, R-Bucks, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Clymer has indicated he has no plans to allow the proposals to leave committee and go to the full House for a vote.

We can't overstate how important it is that you make yourself heard before lawmakers recess June 30 for the summer. Be sure and contact your elected House official and local newspaper and let them know what effect the commission's action is likely to have on you as a Pennsylvania trucker and ask that they support the proposals listed above.

For your representative's contact information, visit http://www.legis.state.pa.us/ and enter your zip code or county in the "Find Members By" box located in the upper right-hand corner of the site or call the House's general information number at (717) 787-2372. You can also call OOIDA's Membership Department at 1-800-444-5791 and they'll look it up.

For a list of Pennsylvania newspaper Web sites where you can write letters to the editor, visit http://www.usnpl.com/panews.php.