News

November 15, 2007

I-80 toll opponent takes jab at Turnpike Commission

U.S. Rep. John Peterson says request for info met with demand he prove residency.

JEREMY GRAD jgrad@timesleader.com

One of the main opponents of tolling on Interstate 80 in Congress has been asked by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to prove he is a resident of this state after submitting a right-to-know request.

U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Titusville, submitted a written right-to-know request two weeks ago seeking a list of lobbying and public relations consultants in the employ of the Turnpike Commission and identification of all employees earning more than $67,000.

Under the Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law, the Turnpike Commission must make a good faith effort to respond to a request for information and must respond within 10 days. There are, however, access exceptions – for example, an information request must come from a resident of the state.

After receiving the information request, the Turnpike Commission stipulated that Peterson provide a copy of a Pennsylvania driver’s license or photo identification before it would release the information.

Carl DeFebo, public relations manager for the Turnpike Commission, said, the agency “has followed the letter of the law. By law we are required to ask people proof of residency.”

“The law is the law even for legislators and we’ve been very consistent in following that,” DeFebo said. “He’s (Peterson) looking for information and like anyone else he has to follow the law.”

In a heated response Peterson said: “We all know that many Turnpike Commission operatives have 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 the state in which he shall be chosen.’ ”

“After serving 19 years in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and 11 years in Congress, my state residency being called into question is awfully suspect,” Peterson said.

Jordan Clark, Peterson’s chief of staff, called the Turnpike Commission’s stipulation a, “ludicrous and lame tactic.”

Clark also said that Peterson has received none of the information he requested, although he has provided proof that he is a citizen of the state – a copy of Peterson’s election certification issued by Gov. Edward Rendell and a copy of the U.S. Constitution.

Jeremy Grad, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7210.

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