Placing tolls along Interstate 80 will have a devastating affect on the state’s job market, U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., said Monday following a trip to Harrisburg to solidify support against the measure.

Peterson staged a rally at the Capitol along with various state lawmakers and others. The rally helped provide some political muscle to a growing number of state Senate and House members looking to repeal Act 44.

“It’s a rolling stone gaining momentum,” Peterson said while contacting The Era on his way back to Washington. “There should be a sense of urgency to this. Most people I talk to in the district think this is a proposal — but it’s already a law.”

The decision to place 10 tolls along the interstate came from a compromise reached between Gov. Ed Rendell and Senate Republicans during the contentious budget process earlier this year, in what was seen as the least of the evils being bantered about. However, Peterson, along with fellow Rep. Phil English, R-Pa., have introduced legislation in Congress to block such the move.

As a result, Rendell has now turned to the option he’s supported all along — to sell the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

“The Senate just caved in,” Peterson said, adding the issue was largely passed over in the heat of the budget battle and threatened layoffs of state employees.

Peterson said it’s a much more difficult task to repeal something that is already a law.

“We need to have this debate now,” Peterson said. “The Turnpike Commission is already preparing to start borrowing millions of dollars.”

Peterson said the plan will be economically devastating.

“This bill will be devastating to the job market,” Peterson said. “This will kill jobs in my district and all of Pennsylvania. We won’t have the same economy as in the past.”

The lawmaker said he was “completely stunned” when the law passed through the Legislature, adding there was one hearing in the House that lasted less than an hour.

“This law passed with one floor debate, period,” Peterson said. “As people become more aware of the issue, they are understanding that this is a bad deal. The facts just speak for themselves.”

Peterson said if the tolls are allowed to go through, the toll cost on both I-80 and the turnpike will be 650 percent more than neighboring Ohio, and 150 percent more expensive then New York state.

“Those are big numbers,” Peterson said, adding the Turnpike Commission recently raised its rates, with a 3 percent escalator put in place forever. “We are talking an almost 50 percent increase in rates just on the turnpike. That same rate will also prevail on Interstate 80.

“Any company that ships a lot of things through Pennsylvania will pay twice — once to bring in the raw materials and another time to ship them back out of the state. They will be the ones that pay the first bill.”

While in Harrisburg, Peterson said he tried to speak with Rendell, but couldn’t make connections, in part, because of Rendell’s speech to the Legislature which officially opened up the special session on energy.

Peterson also said officials have been trying to gain the full backing of U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., in supporting the anti-toll movement.

“We want to move him all the way over to the tolling — hell no — stance,” Peterson said.

In regards to the legislation moving through Congress, Peterson said “we are encouraged.”

“We now have both a Senate and House dealing with tolling ... that strengthens our hand.”

Peterson said he will return to Harrisburg on the issue if there are events that further the cause.

“We feel a lot of educational progress was made on the issue,” Peterson said. “People are now beginning to fully understand what is at stake.”

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