House advances transit funding bill for Pa.; opponents say it won't clear Senate

HARRISBURG — The latest bill proposing to fund public mass transit passed through the Pennsylvania House on Monday with supporters urging the state Senate to act, but opponents say the legislation is political theater with no chance of becoming law and further prolongs negotiations on the long-overdue state budget.

House Bill 1788 advanced by a vote of 108-95. Seven Republicans, largely from the Philadelphia area, broke with their caucus to vote in support. A lone Democrat voted in opposition: Rep. Frank Burns of Cambria County, who holds office in a red district.