ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” story. It is an editorial by the editor.
I have a terse message for the two (likely) new state legislators from this area before the August 2016 primary election:
Roads and fireworks.
The recent news that the State Legislature again kicked the can down the road on funding our sorry roads wasn’t surprising, but what are we voters going to do about it? We re-elect these bozos again and again, but voters in the 80th and 72nd districts won’t even have to throw the rascals out next year.
Ken Yonker (
R-72) is being term limited after six undistinguished years in Lansing. Meanwhile, it’s entirely possible disgraced 80th District State Rep. Cindy Gamrat will choose not to run again and spare herself the indignity of a really ugly campaign and defeat.
This means that the two legislators who represent the City of Wayland and Dorr, Leighton, Wayland, Hopkins, Watson and Martin townships will be fresh faces with new ideas. Just about anything will be an improvement.
We voters during next year’s campaign season ought to hold candidates’ feet to the fire on roads and fireworks. Poll after poll shows a majority of people in this state and in West Michigan want that shameful fireworks law repealed in the interests of public peace and quiet.
Poll after poll also shows voters want something done about the sad condition of Michigan roads, even though they soundly rejected a poorly constructed ballot proposal last May.
A recent Bridge Magazine article reported, “Of the 50 states, Michigan spends the least per capita on its roads and bridges, according to 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data. Michigan spends $174 per person annually on transportation. Illinois and Ohio each spend $235. Minnesota spends $315.
“Michigan motorists pay for the state’s substandard roads in other ways, studies show. Each year, the poor condition of Michigan’s roads costs state residents $7.7 billion in additional vehicle operating costs, wasted fuel, lost time and traffic accidents, according to a January report by TRIP, a national transportation research group.”
This problem isn’t new. Critics of Gov. John Engler almost 20 years ago got a lot of traction when they insisted his record on getting roads squared away was poor. But nothing has happened since.
The State Legislature hasn’t done squat in the last five years, even though the Republican Party has held a majority in both the House and Senate and owns the governor’s chair. Yet the GOP has failed to come up with any kind of workable plan to fix our roads.
Michigan Public Radio columnist Jack Lessenberry, after hearing the news the legislators went on break until fall without road funding resolution, had the following choice words:
“So once again, the gang who can’t shoot at all failed to make any progress on the issue that voters care about most. It is tempting to wish that some billionaire would appear and lead a free-spending effort to recall every member of the Legislature.
“But there’s another solution. We should outlaw the words ‘tax’ and ‘revenue increase’ on pain of death, and talk about ‘user fees.’
“I say, pass a bill saying Michigan is going to assess a new 30-cent a gallon user fee on every gallon of gasoline, all of which has to go to fix the roads. This would totally solve the problem, and be barely noticed. “After all, the price at the pump has varied by a much as a dollar and a half a gallon since January – and it is still a dollar less than it was eight years ago.”
I disagree. A gas sales tax increase would hurt the poor a lot more than the rich. I say legalize marijuana, tax it and regulate it just like alcohol and use all the money for roads. And apply higher taxes on those big rigs that tear up our highways so much more than us mere mortal motorists.
Then let’s repeal the fireworks laws that one of these days is going to result in civil disturbances in neighborhoods sick and tired of the constant barrage of excessive noise coming from adults who never grew up and care not a whit about others living nearby.
I can only hope that issues matter. At least these two. I am really tired of having poor roads and blaring fireworks, courtesy of a State Legislature that really doesn’t give a damn.
