Ed Rendell Is Screwing Us Again

By Wyatt Earp | January 2, 2009

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: PA Governor “Fast” Eddie Rendell is the worst politician this state has ever seen. Pennsylvania residents have been screwed by this guy so often that we should get regular STD exams.

And in the grand Democrat tradition, he’s going to squeeze more money out of our wallets.

Rendell is raising the tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission officials are reminding travelers that most Turnpike tolls will increase 25 percent this weekend. The new rates become effective at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009.

With the new tolls, the most-common cash rate for passenger vehicles will increase from 75 cents to 95 cents, while the most-common cash rate for commercial vehicles will increase from $6.25 to $7.85.

The increase is required to enable the Turnpike to meet financial obligations under Act 44, passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Ed Rendell in July 2007.

Yeah, and those “financial obligations” probably include Rendell’s countless speeding tickets. A-hole.

As a result of the toll increase – only the sixth rate change in more than 68 years – projected annual gross toll revenue will increase from $619.2 million (2008 fiscal year end) to approximately $738.4 million (projected 2010 fiscal year end).

Oh, well if it’s only the sixth rate increase in almost 70 years we can handle that, right? Hold on to your soap, Baba Looey:

Starting in January 2010, tolls will go up incrementally about three percent each year. “Compared to levying a large increase every dozen years or so, regularly scheduled increases allow travelers to better anticipate rate changes,” Brimmeier said. “Since half of our revenues are collected with E-ZPass, it’s simpler to implement annual rate changes today.” (H/T – NBC10)

Thanks a lot, Ed. It’s good to know that the fistings will continue long after you’ve left office . . . and left my state in economic shambles.

Topics: People I Hate | 5 Comments »