The Indy Star an editorial that purports to provide answers on various toll road questions. There is actually some rather good information in there. But, I’m a blogger and not generally inclined to focus on the positive. So, I won’t. I thought this non-answer was pretty bad, particularly given that they were asking themselves the questions.
Isn’t the deal moving too fast?
Leasing the Toll Road is a logical extension of the role the private sector already plays in design and construction of public roads.
Just 10 percent of new road design is handled by INDOT, according to Sharp. State governments can’t offer large enough salaries to keep the necessary expertise in-house; so private firms handle most of the work. All the road construction itself is handled by outside companies. INDOT acts as the project manager and financier.
This response does not at all address the question of whether the process is moving too quickly. The governor has basically handed the legislature enacting legislation along with a done deal, both of which are fairly complicated; both of which will effect Hoosiers for generations to come. He has done this during a short session, with no prior study. The legislature has no opportunity to do its due diligence on the deal by seeking independent analysis or otherwise. Instead, they are asked to give an up or down vote in the space of about 2 weeks. The Star’s “answer” does not address any of this.
Meanwhile, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has an editorial that takes Gov. Daniels to task for his hastiness and his dismissiveness toward discussion of the proposal.
If Gov. Mitch Daniels is truly interested in hearing anything other than accolades for his sketchy transportation program, it’s hard to tell. His administration’s dismissive response to the House Democrats’ proposal is indicative of more than partisan politics. It shows the governor’s contempt for the political process and for an honest discussion of Indiana’s economic future.
Hoosiers should demand that the General Assembly put the brakes on the governor’s Major Moves proposal. His unrelenting push to lease the Indiana Toll Road to an overseas consortium is an affront to those who have raised legitimate questions about the implications of such a policy and to those who have urged him to exercise caution.
The Journal Gazette concedes that on the surface the Governor’s plan looks more attractive than the Democratic plan. They go on to write:
But the prospect of instant gratification doesn’t excuse due diligence in studying the governor’s plan or in examining the alternative proposals that he himself asked for. His argument that Indiana must act fast before other states jump in is specious. A day after Daniels announced the toll road bid results, Texas’ Harris County commissioners authorized $1 million to study options for an 83-mile toll system. They will separately investigate selling the toll road authority, leasing it or keeping it county-owned.
. . .
Indiana lawmakers should be leery of the governor’s now-or-never approach. If Texas officials, whom Daniels has cited as leaders in public-private transportation partnerships, are spending $1 million to study the issue and taking until June to make a decision, what is the rush here?
Well said. Gov. Daniels is pushing like a telemarketer. I’m reminded of the Giovanni Ribisi movie Boiler Room: There is no such thing as a no sale call. A sale is made on every call you make. Either you sell the client some stock or he sells you a reason he can’t. Either way a sale is made, the only question is who is gonna close? You or him? Now be relentless, that’s it, I’m done. The Governor is determined to close. The only question is whether the legislature is going to let him push them around.
The Star’s answer to its own question, “Isn’t the deal moving too fast?” seems to me to completely change the subject. It seems in line with the Governor’s approach to this, and so many other items on his agenda, when faced with a tough question they answer a question that wasn’t asked. If I understand the Star correctly, and their “logical extension” argument, having the private sector do much of the design work for highways is simply analogous to handing over to the private sector design of the financial management of the highway system. If this is the case it is utter nonsense. Cooperation between INDOT and highway contractors has developed over decades. Contractors who want a shot at the next project have a strong motivation to keep INDOT happy. The Toll Road is likely a one shot deal. The consortium offering to purchase (I know “lease”) the road has every motivation to take us for a ride.