I’m awfully late on this one, but I just thought I’d add my two cents about the recent tough talk about the toll road from our Napoleonic Governor.
Speaking of HB 1008 which transfers control of Interstate 80/90 to a private company for the next 3 to 4 generations, the Governor says:
“This is the test. This is the time. There is no other way,†Daniels said. “You’re either for this bill, or you’re against our future.â€
He just can’t help himself I guess. Back in March of 2005, he referred to Democrats as “car bombers” for blocking legislation he wanted. Governor Daniels is unable or unwilling to engage in reasoned debate on an issue without disparaging the motives of those who oppose him.
If you’re against House Bill 1008, then you are “against the future,” he says. If you have concerns about relinquishing control over the major east-west transportation artery in the northern party of the state for the rest of most of our lives, you are “against the future.” If you think the legislature ought to get an independent assessment of the transaction, you are “against the future.” If you have reservations about using taxes from motorists in the northern part of the state to fund road projects throughout the state, you are “against the future.” If you’re interested in pinpointing how this private company can front $3.8 billion and still turn a profit off of Indiana’s road whereas Governor Daniels with his vaunted business expertise can’t even propose a plan for the road to break even, you are “against the future.” If you are concerned that the deal contains no legislative oversight if the private company wants to sell the road to a third party (United Arab Emirates, anybody?), you are “against the future.”
I’m just a guy with a computer, I can refer to our diminutive Governor as “Napoleon.” From our leaders, we should demand better. The Governor’s inability or unwillingness to address the concerns of more reflective lawmakers highlights why we need to study this deal more thoroughly. If his public statements are any indication of the Governor’s deliberative abilities, we are in big trouble if we trust his judgment on this deal and, perhaps more importantly, future sales of Indiana’s infrastructure.
This is a very interesting topic.
As a Libertarian, I am in favor of smaller government and privatization.
I am NOT in favor of this toll road lease. There are far too many gaps in Mitch Daniels logic.
I do not necessarily agree with The Democrats either. This issue needs to be dissected by a couple of independent CPA’s; preferrably Libertarians…
Well then, I guess that means you are “against the future.” :-)
Here I am, up at 0551 CST reading Masson’s Blog . . . that ought to count as being “against our future” all on its own. This morning’s Journal-Gazatte pointed to an anti-toll road lease website as having some interesting content:
http://www.majormoves.org/
I agree in substantial measure with Mike on this one. I am not against private roads in principal, but the Governor’s scheme creates a private monopoly across the northern tier of counties (note that the State has to agree not to upgrade US20 to interstate status) to extend the system of free highways in other parts of the state. It taxes the north at the cost of eliminating a substantial class of possible highway upgrades in the north.
well, you can’t say you’re suprised. he is one of a generation that learned at Uncle Karl’s knee.
To what degree is he doing this in order to get I-69 completed?