Although we've been cool to the idea, we can say this about Gov. Ed Rendell's proposal to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike to private interests -- it has triggered a couple of bold initiatives. Unfortunately, in this case bold is not the same as good.

In fact, since the future of the turnpike became a public issue, neither of the two alternative plans advanced for dealing with it have promised a reasonable way for Pennsylvania to fund its pressing transportation needs, which a bipartisan panel estimated last year had a price tag of $1.7 billion a year.

The turnpike commission's own quickly suggested remedy looked like a desperate attempt to forestall the leasing plan and keep its fiefdom intact. Its multipart proposal would require a combination of bonds, toll increases on the existing system and extension of tolls to Interstate 80. Given the turnpike's well-known reputation for political patronage, the thought of making it bigger strikes us as about as smart as putting a gorilla on steroids.

Senate Majority Whip Jane Orie, R-McCandless, now suggests a variation on that theme -- take another big agency and make it larger to deal with the shortcomings of the turnpike commission.

Her Senate Bill 676 would put the turnpike under the wing of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which is itself not the favorite agency of many Pennsylvanians.

Opinions may differ on whether PennDOT is more efficient and less political than the turnpike commission, but everyone agrees that PennDOT already has a lot on its plate. To suggest adding to that plate is a Big Government solution -- one that is a bit surprising coming from a Republican, especially as it promises no great return. While Ms. Orie believes substantial savings can result, that isn't so clear.

The one thing that can be said in favor of the turnpike commission is that tolls do supply a steady stream of revenue. Lump that in with the PennDOT budget and who knows where those funds may be diverted.

Not surprisingly, the executive director of the turnpike, Joseph Brimmeier, reacted angrily to the latest attempt to take over his turf. He pointed out PennDOT's spectacular failure recently in the so-called Valentine's Day Massacre -- the snow-and-ice storm that stranded hundreds of motorists on several Pennsylvania interstates. He also called Sen. Orie a hypocrite because he said she has sent him at least 20 letters seeking summer employment for various people.

Ms. Orie's version is that she sent out "eight or 10" letters on behalf of college students in her district who were seeking summer jobs. Although the senator was embarrassed by this entertaining exchange, Mr. Brimmeier inadvertently proved himself a canny political operator -- which, of course, is the basic problem with the turnpike.

We have no reason to believe Ms. Orie's proposal would change the culture -- or improve the turnpike.