Month: November 2021

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What the Infrastructure Bill Does for Pennsylvania

  By Infrastructure, PA Budget and Policy Center, PBPC Blog posts, Pennsylvania

Under the formulas contained in the bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will bring $17.8 billion in new spending to Pennsylvania or over $1,400 for each resident of the state. (The state will be able to apply for additional funds as well that could bring the total of spending in Pennsylvania up to $50 billion.) Funds will be allocated roughly as follows: Roads and bridges. Based on the formula alone, Pennsylvania will receive $11.3 billion for federal-aid apportioned highway programs and $1.6 billion for bridge replacement and repairs. Pennsylvania can also compete for funds under the $12.5-billion Bridge Investment Program for economically significant bridges as well as for the $16 billion dedicated for major projects that will deliver substantial economic benefits to communities. These funds are critical. Our state has 3,353 bridges and more than 7,540 miles of highway in poor condition. Since 2011, commute times have increased by… Continue reading

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The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: A Major Step Forward

  By Environment, Federal Budget, Infrastructure, Statements

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: A Major Step Forward Statement from PA Budget and Policy Center, Keystone Research Center, and 99% PA Campaign In passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act last night, the House of Representatives advanced the first of two parts of President Biden’s investment agenda. The over $1 billion infrastructure bill will generate the largest expenditure on the physical infrastructure of our country in decades. It will make huge new investments in roads and bridges, railroads and public transit, clean drinking water, high-speed internet, and repairing the damage to land and water from extractive industries. These and other investments will reduce costs for businesses and consumers, make our economy more competitive, and together with the second part of the Build Back Better plan, create an average of 1.5 million good new jobs per year, many of which will be unionized. It takes time to enact major… Continue reading

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What to Expect When You’re Expecting New Districts

  By PA Budget and Policy Center, Policy reports, Redistricting

Sometime in the next ninety days—and perhaps much sooner—we expect to see the Legislative Redistricting Commission (LRC) release its first draft of a plan for the redistricting of Pennsylvania’s state House and Senate districts. This policy brief aims to give Pennsylvania’s citizens, community leaders, media, and advocates some idea of what to expect from the forthcoming LRC plan. To state our conclusion as succinctly as possible: we expect the LRC to give us fair, nonpartisan legislative districts for the first time in at least two decades. Chairman Mark Nordenberg is leading the effort to undo the effects of twenty years of Republican gerrymandering and create districts that recognize demographic changes over the last decade. As a result, fairly drawn districts lines will look very different than current ones. Click here to print or read full-screen.  Continue reading