The Pennsylvania House of Representatives salvaged a major transportation spending proposal and approved it in a key vote Tuesday night, a day after the measure was narrowly defeated amid concerns over the size of its tax increase and provisions to roll back wage requirements on some highway projects. The legislation raced through the Senate Wednesday faster than you can say the words "mass transit." Mass transportation was also part of the bill.

While there's no question that the state's roads and bridges are rapidly deteriorating and need fixing, a more organized approach should have occurred rather than the highway bill that seems certain to be passed.Lower and middle income families will be hurt most under the current proposal.For starters, over the next five years, gasoline prices could increase as much as 28.5 cents per gallon.Presently there is 32.5 cents per gallon in state tax attached to all gasoline purchased. Pa. ranks 15 in the country in gasoline taxes.The highway bill could put Pa. in the top three in gasoline taxes, maybe even number one. New York has that distinction, with 50.6 cents per gallon assessed.Hurt under the bill will be commuters who travel a great distance to work, farmers, trucking and other transportation companies, and businesses in general since increases in transportation costs are passed onto them, and then onto the consumer.Within five years, $2.80 could be added every time you fill your gas tank if you have a standard car. People who have long commutes including many college students, and individuals with SUVs, could find themselves paying over $1,000 a year more just in gas taxes.Imagine if the price per gallon of gasoline goes up to over $4 per gallon!The state lawmakers who aproved the bill don't have to worry. Their travel allowances are adjusted accordingly.However, the ripple effect of this hast maneuver means that families will be hurt in many ways. Trucking companies will need to charge more to transport food and goods. Stores in turn will increase prices.Families and senior citizens will not only have to pay more out of pocket for gas, but now their already tight budget will be stretched even more.In turn, more people will need to turn to the food pantries.The median wage in Pa. is under $17 per hour. Our local area has a median wage much lower. In Schuylkill County, the 2010 per capita income amounted to a little over $21,000.The proposed highway bill is simply not affordable.Lawmakers should look over the entire bridge and highway construction process to come up with an equitable solution.By RON GOWERrgower@tnonline.com