Lawmakers get turnpike data

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, June, 2007 | by Paul Nussbaum Inquirer Staff Writer

Gov. Rendell yesterday bowed to legislative demands for copies of 52 proposals for leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but he asked the lawmakers to keep the proposals secret.

Rendell has declined for six months to make public the "expressions of interest" submitted by private companies and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. He has said disclosure of the details could reduce the amount of money that Pennsylvania might realize in a bidding process for the turnpike.

But yesterday the governor's office sent copies of the expressions of interest, with names and addresses of the companies blacked out, to four legislative leaders: Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware), Senate Minority Leader...