Corbett: politics drove transportation vote

(Harrisburg) --  Governor Tom Corbett says he's ``extremely disappointed'' by the House vote to reject a major transportation funding plan.

Corbett said the 103-98 vote was driven by politics and not by principle. He said the result is that Pennsylvanians will not have the transportation system they deserve.

The Republican, who's running for re-election next year, says lawmakers who voted for the bill displayed courage and commitment.

Last night's tally came on a test vote that raised doubts about whether any roads bill will pass this year.

Today, House Democrats say they're working to persuade the chamber's GOP majority to allow a vote on a Democratic-written transportation plan. 

The comments by Minority Leader Frank Dermody and Whip Michael Hanna  came 13 hours after the Republican plan, backed by Speaker Sam Smith and Governor Corbett, narrowly failed. 

Smith wouldn't allow a vote on the Democrats' plan, and the vote heightens doubts that a transportation measure can pass before 2015.  

Dermody says the GOP bill failed because of opposition to a provision to roll back wage requirements on some transportation projects. 

The proposal would increase gasoline taxes and a host of motorists' fees to raise billions of new dollars on roads, bridges and mass transit systems. The divided Republican majority produced just 59 votes as conservatives raised concerns about the increased taxes.