tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936225.post8886708023474122729..comments2023-07-18T05:58:02.884-05:00Comments on 56572: This Bud is for usUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936225.post-77675870151311354252008-02-19T10:22:00.000-06:002008-02-19T10:22:00.000-06:00I agree with Bud that compromise is needed if our ...I agree with Bud that compromise is needed if our democratic form of government to work. I was able to listen to some of Gov Pawlenty’s “state of the state” the other day. It is obvious that it is the Governor who proudly brags that he will not compromise. I hope Bud sticks with his openness to compromise and not join our Governor in rejecting it.<BR/><BR/>Having lived in three different homes during the years that I worked in the twin cities my perspective has been shaped by real life experience. One of my homes no longer exists having been bulldozed to make way for the expansion of the interstate highway system. Another is in a neighborhood now “protected” from the noise and carbon monoxide of the ten lane interstate by a high wall. Only the third is relatively unscathed by transportation blight due to its being in a historic area.<BR/><BR/>Most citizens of 10A are well aware of our forced dependence on asphalt in our rural area. In addition many of us are, in fact, frequent users of the now maxed out roadways in the twin cities and can see the crisis first hand. years ago we chose to make the state responsible for transportation infrastructure thus creating a defacto penalty that drove all private sector businesses from the field. As reasonable as that decision seemed in history it directly led to the withdrawal of the railroads from serving most of the communities of 10A.<BR/><BR/>Since the twin cities are the business, government and transportation center of our state the transportation funnel created by this crisis there affects us all. It raise the costs to our businesses, it adds time and danger to our travel.<BR/><BR/>Clearly the next infrastructure projects must include Rail in that part of our state and it is in our (10a citizens) self interest that this happen now! Since light rail directly moves people from the roadways and does it for less cost that expanding the asphalt it is the wise and fiscally responsible thing to do. <BR/><BR/>Joe Hilber – Pelican RapidsDeacon Joe Hilberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09341431391476272612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936225.post-79491541920887215852008-02-16T09:34:00.000-06:002008-02-16T09:34:00.000-06:00Where does one start, Mr. Nornes. Comprimise, you...Where does one start, Mr. Nornes. Comprimise, you know, that "give and take", can't possibly happen with a governor who starts right out of the gate saying "no tax increases." Schools are suffering BIG TIME in Minnesota. Our roads are starting to suck as our infrastructure ages. In all measures, it appears the governor doesn't even know rural Minnesota even exists. A little investment in Minnesota could go a long way in bringing the state back in the black. Something as simple and painless as a gas tax makes sense, and I support it. Most won't even notice it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936225.post-6907327438456339302008-02-16T07:29:00.000-06:002008-02-16T07:29:00.000-06:00My question is simply this: how can we continue t...My question is simply this: how can we continue to get by without increasing taxes with inflation, the state's share of the cost of rebuilding the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, maintain quality public schools, and so on. The fact that the $416 million transportation bill is coming from the general fund is a bit alarming as well.<BR/><BR/>I back the 7.5 cent gas tax. Let those who use the roads pay for them. That is why the increased gas tax will work. I agree with the representative regarding the notion of tying future increases in the gas tax to inflation--that just doesn't make sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com