Why the Transporation Vote was bad for Democrats

As I try to wrap my head around contested primary races in Allegheny County, no one seems to be letting go on the Transportation Bill. On the surface, I would be in favor of this legislation. Raising the gas tax is a user based fee that goes directly into improving roads and bridges and funding mass transit to get congestion off of the roadways.

However, I believe it was the wrong vote for Democratic legislators. Number 1, the Democrats backed themselves into a tax increase corner if they represent a swing district. Number 2, they upset labor because of the increase in the prevailing wage limit. Number 3, the Democrats are now fighting and spending limited campaign resources to go after each other for a bill that ultimately passed.

On top of that, the Democrats didn't find candidates to run against legislators that voted in favor of the Gas Tax in conservative leaning districts such as Senator Randy Vulakovich's and Rep. Hal English in the North Hills. Instead the Democrats seem more concerned with Primary races in Pittsburgh.

This is why Democrats don't have more seats in the State House and State Senate.