Georgia’s leaders have made the state’s transportation problems seemingly impossible to solve.
Only recently have our leaders — namely the governor, lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house — actually emphatically stated that something needs to be done to solve our current and growing gridlock (a huge Atlanta issue); fix our crumbling bridges and roads; and invest in support of projected population and potential economic growth.
As we’ve reported, the state needs to raise an extra $1 billion to $1.5 billion a year on top of what it already earmarks just to maintain the state’s ailing transportation system, according to a legislative study committee’s recent recommendation.
At least the problems are out in the open. The commission’s work also gave business leaders the chance to weigh in.
Doing nothing could mean lost jobs and opportunities to rivals such as Houston and Dallas, said Larry Gellerstedt, Cousins Properties CEO and incoming Metro Atlanta Chamber chairman, at the group’s annual meeting.
Now, we’ve got lots of nodding heads and wringing hands on the issue, but it remains to be seen whether our politicians can overcome some of the problems they’ve created that hold us back on transportation.
Many in the Legislature have campaigned fervently and historically with the ardent and popular point of view that big government is bad.
A healthy skepticism about reflexively turning to government to solve problems remains a good and reasonable principle.
But many of our politicians have pursued the point of view with blind fervor. They’ll say that government is in the way. That less government is always better. That the way to improve government is to underfund it (except perhaps when it comes to key projects in their home district).
They may have succeeded too well in convincing many of their constituents — at least those who weren’t already there in the first place. And those constituents have grown to distrust government, especially when it comes to wise use of tax money.
Never was that clearer than in the aftermath of the defeat of the T-SPLOST issues in all but three regions of the state in 2012.
You may recall that the very idea of regional referendums on transportation investment — supported by additional sales tax — was a punt by the legislature. Unable to come up with a plan for the state, and lacking the courage to create the money (raise taxes) to fund it, our leaders instead created a downright bizarre approach that left it to citizens to vote on regional “project lists” created by a strained and political process.
“A loud and clear no,” our headline said the morning after the vote. So, no real progress was made.
As you sit in various traffic jams this week, it’s worth contemplating this: we need government when it comes to certain things. Transportation is one of those things.
The challenges of creating long-term plans, anticipating needs, building roads, transit and highways — and gathering the lion’s share of the money and financing for it — necessarily falls to government in our country. Without launching into the endless debate of conservative vs. liberal, big government vs. small government and high taxes vs. low taxes, if we want to solve this transportation mess, then we have to demand action by the state’s government. And we have to be able to rely on it.
Even some who passionately believe in limited government have come to believe it’s time to act.
Delta CEO Richard Anderson has been direct: “If that means raising taxes to fund our roads, it means we have to raise taxes to fund our roads,” he said.
And at this point we’re greeted by another problem. We don’t trust the people we’ve elected.
This newspaper’s polling has shown that citizens will support spending, but they don’t trust the folks they’ve elected to spend it well.
It doesn’t help that a regular of drumbeat of misbehavior shows up on our front page.
Much of the 2013 legislative session was dominated by reluctance over basic, common-sense ethics reform. The state’s ethics commission is underfunded and on its heels. Locally, DeKalb County is mired in a scandal that has its roots in misuse of taxpayer money for a crucial upgrade of the county’s water system.
Fairly or not, our leaders have no slack with the public. That’s their own fault, and it gives them limited options.
The talk around the Gold Dome has been dominated by what financial moves can be made to come up with the billions of dollars needed for transportation. Take it from here, and move it there. Hide it within larger “tax reform.” Latch on to the elusive “fourth penny” of the gas tax.
One of our reporters referred to it as an attempt at “financial jujitsu,” all contemplated as a way to give politicians a way to avoid direct responsibility.
Our leaders are also hamstrung by endless anti-tax promises. Dozens have signed pledges to never raise taxes.
In the end, they seem to have no simple way out of this dilemma. Except one.
How about being honest with Georgia’s citizens? How about showing the courage to tell voters and business leaders directly: “We’re going to raise taxes to do this, and it’s for the good of our state. We will all benefit, although not all equally or immediately. Watch closely what we do, and judge us when you vote.”
Gov. Nathan Deal finds himself in a particularly strong position on the matter. He’s just been reelected in his final campaign. He can take some heat without worrying about his next election.
He can lead here, and perhaps claim a spot in Georgia’s history of progress.
The time for our leaders to define themselves by what they’re against is over. It’s time to lead Georgia forward.
