Turnpike tolls to go all electronic
HARRISBURG - State turnpike commission officials say they plan to convert the turnpike into all-electronic tolls that charge motorists without requiring them to drive through toll plazas.
Tolls would automatically be deducted from E-ZPass accounts and the license plates of other vehicles would be photographed so bills could be sent to their owners.
Blake: Debt bills likely on horizon
HARRISBURG - State Sen. John Blake sees legislation to provide more protection against "irresponsible" public debt on the horizon now that a Senate committee's hearings into the city of Harrisburg's massive debt problems are over.
The Senate Local Government Committee held a second hearing Tuesday examining how a massive $300 million debt tied to Harrisburg's trash incinerator is pushing that city to the brink of bankruptcy. Mr. Blake, D-22, Archbald, is the ranking Democrat on the panel.
David Unkovic, a former state-appointed receiver for Harrisburg, called for prohibiting local governments and authorities from entering into financing deals known as interest rate swap agreements, an avenue opened up under a 2003 state law.