Bridge falls into Mississippi River

[Sizzler]

Originally Posted by May, 2007

Governor Tim Pawlenty's veto of a bipartisan transportation bill will cause further deterioration to the state's transportation system and end up costing the state's taxpayers more in the long run.
"This veto shows a real lack of leadership on the part of the Governor," said Solberg. "He has just passed the buck for paying for badly needed road repairs to our kids and our grandkids."

The bill, which passed the Senate on Wednesday, would provide $7.7 billion of funding for the state's transportation system over the next 10 years, including $5.9 billion for roads, with $3.2 billion going to highways in Greater Minnesota. The bill also doubles the amount of money provided for rural transit.

In his veto message, the Governor said he vetoed the bill because it contained an increase to the gas tax, which would have broken a pledge he made three years ago to the partisan Minnesota Taxpayers League to secure the Republican nomination for Governor.

"This is a good indication of where his priorities lie," said Solberg. "He made a promise to a group of his supporters at the expense of the rest of the state."

Solberg also questions the Governor's choice of vetoing the gas tax, when he continues to raise property taxes, and has had no qualms about raising taxes on alcohol or rental cars.

"He certainly doesn't have any qualms about raising fees, either, like the $2,000-plus fee on nursing home residents," Solberg said. "His own transportation plan relies almost exclusively on borrowing, with the bills coming due long after he's left office. That approach will end up costing us more in the long run and limit what we can do in future years."

In Illinois we have the same situation: budget needs to include $1.2 Billion in state funding in order to qualify for over $6 Billion in matching federal funds, and it looks like our governor wants to pay off his voting bloc before worrying about mere citizens so we'll probably so "no thanks" to the federal $6 Billion.

This isn't a federal problem so much as a state issue.