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Well with the governor all about giving his blessing for a gas tax increase, and Marty Seifert rolling over on the issue, it seems we’re destined to get the gas tax increase we don’t need. Instead, Pawlenty, Seifert and other MN Republicans will succumb to DFL pressure to pass a gas tax to pay for….well, we’re not entirely certain. Even had a gas tax passed it’s not likely it would have gone to the bridge since everyone that looked at it said it didn’t need any further work than what was already being done to it.

So presumably we’re gonna be using this money to work on our backlog of road work. Although I suspect we might have enough money to do that if we stop building silly things like light rail and stop subsidizing boondoggles like ethanol.

And while we’re on the topic of silly boondoggles what happened to the transportation amendment we passed?? I thought that passed all the money we’d ever need for transportation? So why are we passing gas taxes now?? Because most, if not all, of that money goes to light rail construction rather than roads.

No instead, we’re gonna submit to irrational emotional raving by the Minnesota DFL, who rather than wait until we have the facts, wants to do whatever plays best in the media. And right now that is how much they care about our roads…after spending lots of time and money trying to replace them with light rail. And playing right into it is our GOP delegation who wants to say “Heh, we like roads too!”. Really? That’s your strategy??

Guess what guys, liberals will never give a conservative credit for ANYTHING, even if they are doing what the libs wanted him/her to do. So stop trying to suck up to the media and the liberals, they aren’t gonna give you credit for it anyway. It’s time for Pawlenty, Seifert and the rest of the MN GOP delegation to play the rational adult in the room, and look at our priorities.

Right now our priorities appear to be burning our food supply and building light rail. You are welcome to change that to investing in the most efficient fuel supply (gasoline) and/or building the most cost-effective transportation method (roads). But stop trying to play right into the DFLs hand, especially since it’s not gonna gain you anything, and it’s gonna cost us (year remember us?) lots and lots of money….I quote

But in order to solve the problem, she said, “we would have to raise gas taxes 34 or 35 cents a gallon.”

Yeah, that’ll win over the public for sure!!

UPDATE : Representative Marty Seifert contacted me via email, as he felt I had mischaracterized his position.. Indeed, I hope I have, and that he continues his excellent track record so far on holding the line on taxes.  He sent a long email explaining his position and some ideas he had.  I may, with his permission, publish some of that, but I really felt he summed his position up perfectly here.

Overall, there will be some sacrifice needed to repair deficient bridges and build needed infrastructure like roads.  The question is, who does the sacrificing?  I would argue that it should be the government budget sacrificing before the family budget.

I agree 100% and I hope this is the approach he goes into any future legislative session with.  It’s no secret that Seifert was one of the reasons the last session was such a success for taxpayers, and I’m VERY happy to see Seifert hasn’t “rolled over” on the issue.  And I hope that his future performance continues to reflect that.