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Washington, DC - In response to a recent request from Congressman John E. Peterson (R-PA), asking the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for a list of its lobbying and public relations contracts and the number of employees that earn over $67,000 annually, the Turnpike Commission demanded that Peterson prove he is a resident of the state by providing a copy of this driver’s license and photo.
Peterson, the most outspoken critic of the Turnpike Commission and Act 44 – a tolling of I-80 and borrowing scheme that will devastate Pennsylvania’s struggling economy – issued the following statement upon receiving their request to provide proof of residency:
“We all know that many Turnpike Commission operatives skipped out on important classes along the way such as Business Ethics and Responsible Management, but surely they would not have missed elementary Civics. Turns out they did. It may be worth their time to blow the dust off their U.S. Constitutions. Specifically, Article I, Section. 2 of the Constitution that states, ‘No Person shall be a Representative who shall not….when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.’
“Why would the Turnpike Commission audaciously ask a sitting Member of Congress to prove his residency by providing his driver’s license? Perhaps it’s because a mere 28 percent of Pennsylvanians approve of Act 44 and tolling I-80? Is it because the Turnpike Commission has a multimillion dollar contract with a PR firm to sell the ‘merits’ of tolling I-80, and the turnpike, at the highest rates in the nation? Could it be a function of attempting to hide their federal lobbying ties, as the Turnpike Commission is set to spend an alarming $1.5 million in toll funds on their federal lobbying efforts just this year alone? Or could be that the Turnpike Commission fears publicly disclosing the high number of overpaid, politically appointed jobs throughout its patronage laden agency?
“After serving 19 years in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and 11 years in Congress, my state residency being called into question is awfully suspect. In response to the Turnpike’s request of sending my driver’s license, though, I will be sending them a copy of my election certification, signed by Governor Rendell, and a copy of the U.S. Constitution, proving that I am, in fact, a Pennsylvania citizen. This stunt is just another example of why this scandal ridden agency should not be doubled in size and given the responsibility to maintain I-80.”
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NOTE: To view a copy of Congressman Peterson’s certificate of election, signed by Governor Rendell, click here.
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