Wolf vetoes bike bill because of provision aimed at Philly DA
HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed legislation last week that was originally aimed at improving bike safety but had been amended by Senate Republicans to include a provision that would have called for the creation of a special prosecutor to oversee cases originating from crimes on SEPTA property in Philadelphia.
Democrats had derided the changes to House Bill 140 as an inappropriate violation of the single subject rule — dictating that legislation should be confined to one subject rather than having lawmakers tack on unrelated provisions. Democrats also criticized the special prosecutor provision as another front in Republican efforts to attack Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.
The House vote Wednesday to impeach Mr. Krasner came over objections from Democrats who argued that Republicans are targeting him for policy decisions rather than corruption or criminal conduct. Republicans countered that Mr. Krasner’s unwillingness to prosecute certain offenses — including those impacting sex workers and illegal drug users — have led to “catastrophic consequences” for city residents as well as for commuters and tourists.
Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Cambria, the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, ahead of the Senate vote on the measure last month, said that the provision creating a special prosecutor is needed because “law enforcement is being handcuffed” and that those committing crimes on SEPTA property are not receiving the same kind of sentences they would get if they were convicted of the same offenses elsewhere in the state.
In vetoing HB 140, Mr. Wolf said that he had supported the proposed bike safety changes but that the change made to the bill “continues the General Assembly’s record of politicizing crime and supporting local control until they disagree with local policies.”
Rep. Mike Carroll, DLuzerne, retiring minority chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said that the Republican attacks on Mr. Krasner amount to “micromanaging” of a county-level official that will lead to an “endless cycle of silliness.” Other Democrats blasted the move to add the provision to a bike safety bill that they would otherwise have supported.
The House voted 108-89 to concur to the Senate changes, sending the bill to Mr. Wolf.
Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, said that is “an affront” that lawmakers from elsewhere in the state “who know nothing and care nothing about Philadelphia” attack the prosecutor in Philadelphia.
Rep. John Lawrence, RChester, who chaired the special subcommittee whose work examining crime in Philadelphia preceded the move to impeach Mr. Krasner, said that the move to add a special prosecutor to handle crime on the SEPTA system is needed to confront the widespread crime that is discouraging people from using the mass transit system. He noted that earlier this year, SEPTA was forced to close a station for two weeks to renovate the facility due to damage from vandalism and unlawful conduct.
Rep. David Maloney, RBerks, said in a release he was “very disappointed” in Mr. Wolf’s veto of the bicycle bill. He said his legislation would allow municipalities to construct protected bike lanes that use planters, curbs, parked cars or posts to separate bike and auto traffic on busy streets.
“The governor’s veto today leaves in place PennDOT’s antiquated regulations and prevents our municipalities and cities from moving forward with practical, lifesaving traffic safety solutions,” Mr. Maloney said. “House Bill 140 ... was named for the cycling deaths of two young women commuting to work, Susan Hicks of Pittsburgh and Emily Fredricks of Philadelphia — two women whose lives could have been saved by protected bike lanes in these traffic-congested, Democrat-run cities.”