SEPTA is welfare says Butler County Republican (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: 2013, taxes)

[Debbie1125]

I can't say this really surprises me. I guess this idiot doesn't realize that people in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the commonwealth's two largest cities, pay taxes that fund roads they never use in rural parts of Pennsylvania. Also, they benefit from the tourism dollars that are spent in those two cities.

What a short sighted moron.

Right-wing legislator calls SEPTA funding 'welfare' | Philadelphia City Paper | 05/08/2013

[LEFT]Funding for SEPTA and other public transit is "subsidizing a minority of our population’s bus fare, which is just more welfare," said state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), according to an e-mail discussion obtained by the Capitolwire news service (subscription only).


[/LEFT]

[2e1m5a]

"27 percent of the state’s transportation funding went to southeastern Pennsylvania – Bucks, Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties – while that region had 32 percent of the state population and 40 percent of the state’s economic activity."

No more needs to be said. Septa, and the Philadelphia region are underfunded. Butler County is most likely overfunded and thus a welfare leeching parasite to the state.

[jazzy jeff]

Nothing out of the mouth of Daryl Metcalfe surprises me.

[cpomp]

Politics of Pennsylvania. Our 5 country region is Pennsylvania, embarrassing for us that we sometimes get generalized into the category of backwards closed minded thinking. PA would be one of the poorest states right there with Mississippi if the Philadelphia region was its own state or a part of New Jersey. New Jersey in return might become the wealthiest state, its already one of the wealthiest.

[Duderino]

Daryl Metcalfe is, by far, the most inflammatory ultra-conservative hack in the State legislature.

He is the epitome of a politician that tries to rile-up and detract with extremist rhetoric, in particular with his Santorum-esque homophobic comments.

His comments about SEPTA come as no suprise, as cluelessness and ignorance are his forte. It is extremely concerning and upsetting that someone like him is in a position of political power.

[jazzy jeff]

Originally Posted by Duderino

Daryl Metcalfe is, by far, the most inflammatory ultra-conservative hack in the State legislature.

He is the epitome of a politician that tries to rile-up and detract with extremist rhetoric, in particular with his Santorum-esque homophobic comments.

His comments about SEPTA come as no suprise, as cluelessness and ignorance are his forte. It is extremely concerning and upsetting that someone like him is in a position of political power.

He has authored a bill that would ban not only same sex marriage, but would also ban civil unions or domestic partnerships for gays. He has also authored a bill on immigration that is very similar to Alabama which of course is far right of Arizona's law.

[Marius Pontmercy]

Ah Pennsyltucky.

I grew up there. I love having these arguments with my parents who are aghast that I'm living in such a liberal hell hole.

[southbound_295]

It's like Tim Russert said, "You have Philadelphia on one end & Pittsburgh on the other, & Alabama in between.".

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

It's like Tim Russert said, "You have Philadelphia on one end & Pittsburgh on the other, & Alabama in between.".

It was James Carville. But to be fair, Metcalfe is on the fringe.

I think most politicians, including many Republicans, understand that we need multiple and well-funded transportation options to sustain and improve our economy. It's just that these useless extremists try to get attention and score political points.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

It's like Tim Russert said, "You have Philadelphia on one end & Pittsburgh on the other, & Alabama in between.".

The original quip was made by James Carville during Robert P. Casey's '88 gubernatorial campaign. He then said, "between Paoli and Penn Hills, Pennsylvania is like Alabama without the black folk." Nowadays, I think that can be broadened to Morgantown and Murrysville, but even then, Harrisburg-York-Lancaster, Reading, the Lehigh Valley, and Scranton-Wilkes Barre are cosmopolitan-ish.

Butler County, where Mr. "Septa Welfare" is from, is an odd mix of affluent exurbs; depressed industrial towns; and rural villages; interspersed with farmland. There's even some Amish in the Northwest corner.