‘Meet Your Legislator’
State legislators from Fayette County took the time Friday to pat each other on the backs, for getting passage of a new open records law and also outlined their priorities before a group of local businesspeople. State Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Dunbar; state Rep. Timothy Mahoney, D-South Union Township; and state Rep. Deberah Kula, D-North Union Township; were among the featured speakers at a “Meet Your Legislator” event sponsored by the Government Affairs Council of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. It was held at the Holiday Inn in Uniontown.
Gov. Ed Rendell signed the first overhaul of open records legislation in decades, introduced by Mahoney last year, into law a day earlier.
Kasunic said the law would make government a little more open. He said Mahoney battled and fought for that until it became law.
Touting a project he has supported for years, Kasunic also shared “good news” about the Brownsville-to-Uniontown link of the Mon/Fayette Expressway, saying bids for the four remaining projects that comprise the second half of the link will be let over the next five or six months. He said a ribbon-cutting for the first phase will be held in the fall.
Then, turning to the “bad news,” Kasunic said if the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission leases the turnpike, the local link would not be constructed, although $350 million has been promised toward its completion.
“If that happens, we won’t see that road built,” he said.
Kasunic said his reasons are selfish to keep the turnpike in control of the state because he has been working toward completion of the local link for 25 years. Kasunic said infrastructure improvements are important, and he also is working to update mine safety laws.
Mahoney said he and other legislators stood their ground to get a commitment for the local Mon/Fayette Expressway link.
Also, Mahoney said getting the open records legislation passed was a team effort.
Mahoney also spoke about his attempts to have a new prison constructed in German Township. He said a prison would bring 750 family-sustaining jobs, and would bring needed improvements to Route 21, which he called a “death trap of a highway.”
Mahoney then acknowledged that he works well with Kula, saying they “share a room in Harrisburg.” He quickly clarified the statement after it garnered a roomful of laughs, saying they share office space in the state Capitol.
“Reform in Pennsylvania is near to my heart. Open records was a big step, but the next thing is the way we fund public education,” Mahoney said.
Kula said a lot of what has been accomplished in the past year is the result of a good relationship among the local delegation. She acknowledged Kasunic and Mahoney as well as state Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, and state Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-California, whose districts also include a portion of Fayette County.
Kula said a new open record law was such a big issue, it consumed the Legislature for the past year.
“It was a long, hard battle, but it brought Fayette County to the forefront,” Kula said.
Kula then discussed issues she said she is “impassioned” about, including developing trade schools, pre-kindergarten funding initiatives and working toward the good health of young people.
In response to a question about property tax relief, Kasunic said $671 million was recently made available for property tax relief from gambling proceeds, and later this year taxpayers in the Uniontown Area School District will likely get $173; Connellsville Area taxpayers should get $135 each and other school districts in the county should get a break of $100 each.
The three Fayette County commissioners also spoke briefly during the luncheon.
Commission Chairman Vincent Zapotosky, who just took office last month, said he is excited about purchasing a new voting machine that will give voters a choice in the upcoming primary. He also said the commissioners plan to implement a hotel occupancy tax this year that will include designating money for Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, to have a hospitality program similar to the one at the main campus.
Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites commended the chamber for its work on tourism-related issues, including input on the hotel tax issue. He said by moving forward with the hotel tax, the commissioners will make sure the funding is structured in the best interest of Fayette County. Vicites also said infrastructure funding is crucial to the future of the county, mentioning the need for a runway extension at the Joseph A. Hardy/Connellsville Airport.
Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink spoke about the need for legislators to lower the personal income tax and the corporate tax rate. She said many businesspeople have spoken to her about the need to lower taxes.
Zimmerlink also pledged to continue to watch expenses on a county level.
“As long as I’m a county commissioner, I will make sure services are done in the most cost-effective way,” she said.