(WHTM) — The State House passed a bill to spend half a billion more dollars on mass transit, roads and bridges this morning, but critics call that more performance than substance that moved the budget no closer to its final destination.

The bill comes as SEPTA warned of painful reductions if it doesn’t get money by Thursday. The Senate, which will return to Harrisburg tomorrow, is now in the driver’s seat.

House Bill 1788 would steer $300 million to mass transit and $500 million for roads and bridge repairs. Most House Republicans aren’t on board.

“We’re spending now about $2 billion on mass transit across the state,” said Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin counties), a Republican Chairman of the Transportation Committee. “That funding has increased over 45% since 2018 to 2019. When is enough enough?”

SEPTA, which runs through the Philadelphia region, said without $200 million by Thursday, services will be cut and fares hiked.

“This particular bill rips off Pittsburgh,” said Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny County). “It rips off every other part of the state when it allows SEPTA to take a disproportionate amount of the money… SEPTA currently runs a $1.7 billion deficit, and that is five times the national average. Why is nobody looking at that?”

To fund HB 1788, transportation would get a greater share of the state’s sales taxes.

“We can’t afford to take more of the sales tax money to spend it on mass transit when we already have a $5 billion deficit we’re dealing with,” said Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford/Erie counties).

Rep. Ed Nielson (D-Philadelphia County), a Democratic Chairman of the Transportation Committee, said his region pays far more in state taxes than it gets back.

“I’m getting angry,” said Rep. Nielson. “I don’t want to be angry. We need your help. If we shut down the economic engine by not getting people to jobs in Philadelphia and Southeast PA., there are no taxes being paid to this Commonwealth.”

The bill passed, but GOP leaders argue such funding needs to be part of the broader budget and not a one-off by one chamber.

“You cannot pass things individually and expect that to be a solution,” said House Minority Leader Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton counties).

House Democrats counter that they’ve now passed 5 transportation funding bills and one budget, and the Senate has failed to act on those or pass their own.

“We have received no answer,” said House Majority Leader Rep. Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery County). “The other body has simply not attended. They have been on vacation. They have not shown up. That is not acceptable. That is refraining from the task.”

Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R) released the following statement:

“On Friday afternoon, I left a meeting with Governor Shapiro feeling like we were making significant progress on a full budget. Twenty-four hours later, he chose to set up a press conference focused on political rhetoric and Leader Bradford scheduled a performance session that did nothing to advance a common sense solution to help all Pennsylvanians. As a result, the Senate has been recalled for session on Tuesday to consider options to address the consequences of a budget impasse.”
Senator Joe Pittman

House lawmakers passed their bill and left town, saying they won’t return until Sept. 22 unless a budget agreement is made.