Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > January > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSpeaker Richardson: Money for transportation this year, not later
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Wednesday night, about 250 residents of metro Atlanta who might call themselves movers and shakers assembled to discuss how little they actually shook. Or moved.
It was a Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce event, an evening to discuss legislative priorities with Republican leaders of the General Assembly. Transportation was the obvious priority.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle spoke first, we’re told. He stuck to Gov. Sonny Perdue’s talking points. No extra state funds could be ventured on improving the state’s transportation problems until the state Department of Transportation has been reorganized.
House Speaker Glenn Richardson followed. And he did not agree. He promised a House vote this session. Not on the promise of cash — Cagle has said he’s in favor of a November vote on a constitutional amendment for a special local option sales tax.
Richardson said he was ready to talk about the real thing. Money. This session.
The House speaker did mention that, if incompetence and disorganization were a problem at DOT, it might be worth looking at the current make-up of the DOT board.
A vote on that particular topic will be held next week.
But Richardson also spoke of his horrendous daily commute from Paulding County. (Weep only gently for the man. He does have a state-paid driver.) Nonetheless, the current timetable, the speaker said, could delay added funds for transportation for another 18 to 24 months. Completion of projects could extend to 2018 or later.
That, he said, was unacceptable. Richardson is scheduled to address the Atlanta Press Club at noon on Thursday. His address to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce was a dress rehearsal, we’re told.
Comments
By Kevin
January 24, 2008 6:15 AM | Link to this
Imagine 250 speed humps all in one event! What did they decide to do, lobby for new legislation against mailbox baseball? That’ll get the 18 wheelers moving.
I’ll tell you how to relieve congestion: stagger the work day into 7am, 8am, and 9am start times and 3pm, 4pm, and 5pm quit times. Divide the people up according to race, religion, and gender. The rich white male baptists get the 7-3. The poor black female mormons get the 8-4. and of course the middleclass chaws who believe in beer get the 9-5.
There. traffic solved. Didn’t spend a penny now did I?
Paid 4 by the committee to end gridlock.
By RJ
January 24, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
Notwithstanding the differing viewpoints about solutions, as Georgia leaders, most Republicans will be judged harshly this election year for not addressing our transportation and other woes.
If the Democrats were smart they would be busying themselves finding credible opposition because this election year is their best shot for some time to come. By any credible measure, Georgia’s Republican leaders simply have not performed as promised.
Cagle is making a
By Will Jones
January 24, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
“Republicans” everywhere will be judged harshly, and rightly so, for their sustaining the traitors in power who were cheated in, and committed 9-11 to take us to false war for heroin, oil and the Saudis, who also call themselves Republican.
By Victor Jones
January 24, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Please ask Glenn to join the Pothole Revolution in Macon & Bibb County. We’re trying to teach our citizens to get by with less, while appreciate the art of a well angled and deep pothole.
Log on to WMCCNEWS dot com for details.
By gafarmer
January 24, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
Move State Government other than Constitutional Officers and their offices out of Metro and enjoy your ride. CATHY COX moved offices to Macon and did the citizens a great service.
By Hmmm...
January 25, 2008 1:06 AM | Link to this
Agreed, gafarmer. Always thought the state capital should be in Macon. Georgia is more than metro ATL. And how about commuter rail from Macon to Atlanta? Macon to Savannah?