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To the editor:
I have advice for the Governor and Democrats who control the Legislature.
The Democrats must bring forward a long-term transportation bill without pushing for too much.
The Governor must stop playing political games and exercise leadership instead of stubbornness.
We have falling state revenues and a shortfall for funding transportation projects. Anyone obliquely involved with transportation, which includes most Minnesotans driving on poor roads in congestion, can see the obvious.
In addition, the D.O.T. is demoralized by the 35W collapse and frustrated by a politicized and convoluted leadership structure. It is experiencing a frightful exodus of top flight engineers; leading to the ruin of what was the envy of the nation.
We know that the gas tax is a user fee. It’s not something easily embraced. But if we want safe roads that work, the gas tax, last raised 20 years ago, fits the bill.
Because does it really make sense that the interest on bonds proposed by the Governor equal 25 percent of the D.O.T. budget by 2015?
All the posturing by the Governor aside, a gas tax increase of 7 cents will cost the average Minnesotan driving 11,000 miles a year at 20 miles per gallon a total of $41.25 per year. Much less than the cost of idling in traffic or a speeding ticket or new rims ravaged by potholes.
With pump prices fluctuating .50 cents to a $1 – does .07 cents really matter? No more foolish games. Minnesotans know it’s time to ante up.
Wade Vitalis
Shafer
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