By DANIELLE LYNCH
dlynch@delcotimes.com

CONCORD — Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of Chester, discussed issues facing Pennsylvanians during the taping of a show for residents at Maris Grove, an active-adult community in the Glen Mills section of Concord.

The taping of the show, “Thru the Lens,” took place Wednesday afternoon. Maris Grove resident Laura Searls was the host of the segment with Pileggi.

“We just finished the budget for the first time at the end of June,” Pileggi said, adding that it was the first time in nine years the budget was passed before the July 1 start of the fiscal year.

The $27.2 billion state budget bill — which doesn’t include any tax increases — was signed by Gov. Tom Corbett just before midnight on June 30. Pileggi criticized former Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, saying he didn’t make the budget deadline a priority.

Searls also asked about the status of funding for transportation.

Pileggi said a commission is currently looking into ways to increase transportation funding and is expected to issue recommendations next month. He estimated it would cost about $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion a year to maintain the state’s infrastructure. Pileggi said the budget does not include any new pieces of legislation that would affect senior citizens differently.

“We’re not in expansion mode,” he said.

Pileggi also discussed redistricting efforts. At the state level, he serves on the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, which is examining the boundaries of the state House and state Senate legislative districts. He said the commission is expected to conclude its study on boundary changes in the fall.

There are also efforts to make redistricting changes at the federal level, including the elimination of one of the congressional districts in Pennsylvania.

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