HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s 20-year-old state bus may not be worth the cost of maintaining it, but it’s worth its weight in political symbolism.

The hulking 41-foot motor coach provided the backdrop for Republican Gov. Tom Corbett on Wednesday as he announced plans to auction off the “white elephant” of the state’s vehicle fleet that Corbett has vowed to shrink.

“This bus represents everything wrong with state government — it’s outdated, inefficient and broken-down,” said Corbett. The 1991 vehicle, cloaked in a colorful wrap depicting Pennsylvania scenes and proclaiming it as “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Government on Wheels,” features stuffed leather swivel chairs, a kitchen, a conference room and a bathroom. It was donated to the state in 2003, the first of Gov. Ed Rendell’s eight years as governor.

Since then, it has been driven less than 26,000 miles while costing taxpayers more than $66,000 to maintain, said Corbett.

The bus, which currently cannot move under its own power because of a bad transmission, will be sold at an upcoming auction in Centre County.

Corbett is calling for deep cuts in spending for higher education and public schools to help offset a projected $4 billion state budget shortfall.

In a teleconference call, Rendell said the growth of spending on economic programs during his administration was a major reason Pennsylvania boasted the nation’s third-largest increase in the number of jobs added during the yearlong period that ended in February.