Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2009 > January > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USA transportation theme party: If you’re not on the bus, you’re under it
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue’s secret plan to reorganize the state’s many transportation agencies is up to 150 pages and growing — or so it is said.
But the stampede of alternatives has already begun.
State Rep. Steve Davis (R-McDonough) has dropped H.R. 140, which would remove all mention of the board that oversees the Department of Transportation from the state Constitution, and let the General Assembly (perhaps with some slight input from the governor) decide its composition.
On the Democratic side, Sen. Steve Thompson (D-Powder Springs) has introduced a proposed constitutional amendment that would levy a statewide transportation tax of one cent on the dollar — and in exchange would give constitutional protection to those homeowner relief grants that are now in jeopardy. They represent between $200 and $300 to the average homeowner.
Neither of the above measures have much chance of passage. Davis hasn’t the seniority to compete with an issue now the topic of negotiation among the governor, the House speaker and the lieutenant governor.
And Thompson is a Democrat who would need two-thirds of the Republican-controlled chamber to pass S.R.90.
That said, Thompson’s statewide sales tax is of interest. The second signer is Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna), who has also signed onto Senate Transportation Chairman Jeff Mullis’ regional sales tax package. Looks like he’s open to negotiation.
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
Comments
By PAY ATTENTION
January 28, 2009 1:35 PM | Link to this
PAY ATTENTION
The first five words in the article sum it up, “Gov. Sonny Perdue’s secret plan…” secret plans by politicians are never a good thing. This is not a “reorganizing of the state’s many transportation agencies” this is a power grab for the next Gov. These three politicians have cooked up a plan that will allow them (or whoever is the most influential politician) to dictate where the vast amount of money that comes in from the gas tax will go. Whoever will kowtow to them will get that money, so let the groveling begin. PAY ATTENTION Georgia, the gas tax money will not be going to your roads, instead it will be going to the pet projects of political insiders or to the most politically expedient projects. Less senior Representatives and Senators won’t stand a chance of having major projects in their districts especially if they oppose the leadership, sorry Mr. Davis. Most importantly, this reorganization will have the unfortunate side effect of ensuring that the will of the few most politically powerful is followed because if you can control who gets the money you get to set the rules. This is the “good old boy system” by definition. “Give me control of a nation’s money supply, and I care not who makes the laws.” Mayer A. Rothschild. May I suggest that these three are asking for the control of our states last remaining untouched money supply, a money supply that is devoted to the improvements of roads and bridges for all the citizens of Georgia. Look around in your area of the state and understand that you will see less road improvements and maintenance of roads if the three amigos have their way.
By I agree
January 28, 2009 6:27 PM | Link to this
Why did Sonny after FORCING Gena Abrahms down the DOT’s throat to be their new commissioner, then he made her the head of SRTA. So he can shift the money anyway he wants away from the DOT and to anything he wants to do like Fish Ponds. I gurantee the DOT board regrets they didn’t fire Gena, now Evans when they had the chance. In her report she said that we had plenty of money till 2005 then suddenly it dropped for some unexplained reason. The unexplained reason was for all of Sonnys fast forward projects in 2005. They did them and brought her in and now are trying to make GDOT look like fools. Sonnys spending drained GDOT in 2005. If the lawmakers don’t get their head out of their azz and realize this is a power play for money, YOUR MONEY. He wants to control it and the roads of GA will never be right. What little POWER the legislature has to say will be gone to 3 republicans. So you think this is not Political? This is hugely political. By the same fools that got us in the recession now. Also before Gena and Sonny Purdue. GDOT was the no.1 or in the top 10 of dots for the last 18 years. They never had any problems till they brought Gena on board. Think about that. Sonny Purdue just wants to get in control of that money. It’s your state, he puts a fishing hole in his county now thats not a little self serving what is?. Everything he does is not for people of Georgia it is for the republicans and his friends. The people that trashed this country.