Casey calls on GOP to cooperate on tax credit extension

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania is seeking some bipartisan assistance to help transit riders get parity with four-wheeled commuters. 

Mass transit riders have had their tax credit cut in half because of a failure to renew a transit tax incentive, even while tax breaks for parking hold steady, said Casey, a Democrat. A new bill is designed to restore the larger tax break.

“What we are trying to do with the bill by way of amending the tax code is to equalize and increase the commuter transportation benefit to $245 a month with the cost-of-living adjustment 2013 or ’14 forward so we don’t have to be constantly revisiting this issue and provide that permanent parity,” Casey said Friday.

Katelin Drummond, a nurse at Jefferson University Hospital, said the benefit makes her commute more affordable.

“I take the regional rail every day, and I’m happy to say I think It’s a great thing for our environment,” she said. “I’m happy to have i,t especially in all our snowstorms this winter where I was able to get to work on time and be there.”

Casey is seeking a Republican co-sponsor for the bill.