Gov. Corbett Slightly Opens Door For State Aid To Port Authority
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Last week, Governor Tom Corbett seemed to draw a hard line against any state money to restore major service cuts made by the Port Authority Transit.
"In years past, the state has been able to just produce money and help solve that. We don't have that money," Corbett said at the time in response to questions from KDKA Political Editor Jon Delano.
Basically, Corbett said it was up to the transit union to work with management to cut costs.
Delano: "Is reducing service to a third of their routes and 40,000 people affected, is that the way to balance their budget?"
Corbett: "Well, I think that they have to take a look at where they are spending and, as I said, I think they have to sit down and talk to the unions."
Today, on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA Corbett seemed to soften his tone.
Click the link below to listen to the full interview:
Larry Richert: "But the door is open?"
Corbett: "The door has always been open, but somebody, they have to start taking action over in Allegheny County."
John Shumway: "So to say that there will be no help coming from Harrisburg on this issue is an overstatement?"
Corbett: "It is an overstatement, but I think you both know that I'd rather understate what the amount of help will be."
At a press conference with Mayor Ravenstahl and Philadelphia Mayor Nutter, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald was optimistic.
"He's willing to partner with us in doing that and some of that may be the fact that the state is collecting more money now," he said.
But Fitzgerald said the governor still wants the Port Authority to cut costs.
"They do need to see savings out of the Port Authority agency, meaning the drivers contract which is up now, up in June, being negotiated now, and that the management at the Port Authority also needs to show significant savings."
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