Gov Pawlenty orders bridge Inspections already done. Problems known since 2001. Vetoed funding.

[Flabbergasted]

MINNEAPOLIS
By RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press Writers
The Associated Press - Thursday, August 02, 2007

Gov. Tim Pawlenty ordered an immediate inspection Thursday of all Minnesota bridges that have a design like the one that collapsed Wednesday in Minneapolis. Pawlenty said he did not know how many bridges have that design.

The eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge, a major Minneapolis artery, was in the midst of repairs when it buckled during the evening rush hour. Dozens of cars plummeted more than 60 feet into the Mississippi River, killing at least four people and injuring 79.

"We have one of the better or best bridge inspection programs in the country. ... However, that's little consolation when you have a horrific tragedy like this event," Pawlenty said. "The first thing we're going to do is make sure that we immediately inspect and check all bridges of this design and that fall into this category on the assessment scale."

http://www.wctrib.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D8QP28GO0

Too bad he didn't use it and vetoed the transportation bills. Fuck You Pawlenty.

Reports: Problems with Minnesota bridge noted twice since 2001

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (CNN) -- Two reports published since 2001 pointed to structural problems with the Interstate 35W bridge that collapsed Wednesday into the Mississippi River, but both reports determined the bridge was safe despite deficiencies.

"The bridge's deck truss system has not experienced fatigue cracking, but it has many poor fatigue details on the main truss and the floor truss system," said a report conducted for the Minnesota Department of Transportation in 2001.

Trusses are support mechanisms, and floor trusses often act as the "primary load-carrying members in a bridge superstructure," according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.

The executive summary of the report -- undertaken by the University of Minnesota's Department of Civil Engineering -- also points to fatigue problems with the bridge's approach span, the segments that connect the main span of the bridge to land. It attributed the fatigue problems primarily to "unanticipated out-of-plane distortions in the girders."

However, the report also said, "Fatigue cracking is not expected during the remaining useful life of the bridge." Watch the bridge collapse »

In another report two years ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Bridge Inventory database concluded the bridge was "structurally deficient."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/02/bridge.structure/

Irony of the day: Minnesota Governor Wields Veto to Protect Taxpayers
Edited on Thu Aug-02-07 10:40 AM by Flabbergasted
Minnesota Governor Wields Veto to Protect Taxpayers

Vetoes billions of dollars in taxes and fees
Written By: Mark Giga
Published In: Budget & Tax News
Publication Date: August 1, 2007
Publisher: The Heartland Institute


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) issued 20 full or partial vetoes of tax hikes and spending increases in May, giving taxpayers reason to smile.

Despite the vetoes, for only the third time in 20 years the Minnesota legislature will not be meeting in special session during a budget year. While that alone could be cause to celebrate, the work that was finished on the state's $35 billion biennial budget will allow Minnesotans to rest easy until the legislature reconvenes in February 2008.

Minnesota taxpayer advocates had little reason for optimism at the start of the 2007 legislative session. But their spirits rose on April 14 when Twin Cities talk-radio host Jason Lewis gathered 7,000 people on the steps of the State Capitol in St. Paul for one of the largest pro-taxpayer rallies in Minnesota history.


'Emergency' Bill Veto

Then on May 1, Pawlenty, in a move that took everyone by surprise, vetoed an entire $334 million "emergency" capital investment bill. Pawlenty said in his veto message the bill authorized "more than four times more spending on projects than I requested and is simply too large."

Two weeks later Pawlenty announced another important veto, this one to block a transportation bill containing more than $5 billion in tax and fee increases, including adding 7-1/2 cents to the per-gallon gasoline tax, a "wheelage" tax (a tax on vehicles), sales tax increases for transit spending, an excise tax on new car purchases, and increased tab and license fees with a total cost to the average Minnesota family of up to $500 a year.

Pawlenty ended the month of May vetoing tax bills approved by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party, which last November regained the majority in the House for the first time since 1998 by picking up 19 seats and expanded their majority in the Senate to a nearly veto-proof 44-23 margin.


No Tax Swap

The DFL tax bills included a subsidy for an expansion of the Mall of America, increased sales tax compliance measures, an autopilot mechanism for future increases in government expenditures, and a form of tax "relief" to which Pawlenty took particular exception. The state would have provided more money to local governments to allow them to reduce local property taxes.

"Buying down property taxes through local government aid programs has never proven to be a long-term solution to property tax pressures," Pawlenty said in a May 30 veto message.

Phil Krinkie, president of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, agreed.

"Relying on the benevolence of local units of government to restrain their spending and lower property taxes when the state drops sacks of money in their lap is simply foolish," Krinkie said. "Thankfully, Minnesota has a governor that recognizes this."


Unsuccessful Override

The transportation bill veto is the only one the DFL tried to override. The attempt came with less than 20 minutes remaining in the session and was defeated by House Republicans, led by Minority Leader Marty Seifert (R-Marshall).

"Democrats made too many campaign promises to win their seats and are now learning they can't pay for them," Marshall said after the failed override attempt.

Ultimately, it was the DFL's inability to override any of Pawlenty's vetoes--particularly of the transportation bill--that resulted in a comparatively small $3 billion increase in state spending with no new taxes.

Said Krinkie of the 2007 session, "Minnesotans really need to thank Gov. Pawlenty and Rep. Seifert's House Republicans. These guys stood strong in the face of overwhelming pressure and came through for taxpayers when they really needed them."

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=21658

[AndyA]

1. I'm sure Minnesotans are doing something other than thanking them today.

Said Krinkie of the 2007 session, "Minnesotans really need to thank Gov. Pawlenty and Rep. Seifert's House Republicans. These guys stood strong in the face of overwhelming pressure and came through for taxpayers when they really needed them."

When are people going to realize that the Republican agenda is not in anyone's best interest, except the Republican Party and those who are in control of it.

The average Republican is stupid, but some of them are getting wiser with each tragedy. I guess it truly does take a bridge falling on them before they get it. :(

[bluestateguy]

2. The next time some little shit yaks about "pork" in the budget

That "pork" often saves lives, even if it sounds silly on a bumper sticker or in a Bill O'Reilly segment.

[Flabbergasted]

9. "Pork Saves Lives" I like it. nt

[Sadie5]

3. We can expect more of these incidents

Does anyone else remember the discussion after Bush was PLACED in office concerning less funds to the states? Every state was cash strapped while looking for ways to offset the loss of Fed dollars. Then the Repug governors try to restrict funds even more, and this is what happens. Daniels is doing much the same thing in Indiana. If the roads collapse he will steer the families of the injured to the foreign country that bought the roads.

[LSparkle]

8. NY steam pipe explosion, bridge collapse in CA, now in MN ...

Our country is fucking falling apart ... I thought I heard Thom Hartmann say this morning that states (including LA after Katrina) have to come up with "matching funds" in order to get federal dollars -- did I get that right? And the states are strapped for cash after unfunded mandates like No Child's Behind Left and pressure from the wingnuts not to raise taxes ...

Is this the tipping point, when America finally rejects the Grover Snorequist "starve the beast/drown govt in the bathtub" philosophy and realizes that government ISN'T the problem after all and we need to start reinvesting in our Commons/infrastructure even if it means (gasp) the wealthy and corporations paying higher taxes?????

[MnFats]

4. Krinkie is one of the worst. Never met a spending bill he didn't hate. Lost to Bachmann

snippet from a mn politico site"

State Rep. Phil Krinkie of Shoreview was the fourth Republican to announce his candidacy for Congress in the 6th District, announcing his intentions on February 25, 2005. Krinkie chairs the House Taxes Committee, and has been called "Dr. No" at the Capitol for his frequent "no" votes on spending bills. He says he's running for Congress because he's concerned about issues such as deficit spending and the Patriot Act.

His campaign ended on May 6, 2006 when the District 6 convention endorsed Michele Bachmann for the seat.

[kiteinthewind]

5. kick

[lebkuchen]

6. No problem spending over a trillion bucks for an illegal war though!

Some people were born to suffer~. Maybe we can work a deal where those who want to travel over safe bridges can pay the taxes and travel them, and those who don't wish to can ferry across in a canoe.

[Lex]

7. wow

K & R

[RC]

10. This just goes to prove that government.

can't take care of our road system. We need to privatize it. :sarcasm:

Now in reality they need to show the bridge collapsed because of the proper lack of money to inspect and maintain it. I understand they knew of certain defects in the bridge since 2001?

[SalmonChantedEvening]

11. cmon Tim just SAY IT already:

"We had NO IDEA THAT THE BRIDGES WOULD COLLAPSE"

:grr:

[Peace Patriot]

12. Throw ES&S/Diebold election theft machines into 'Boston Harbor' NOW--

before these reichwing corporations (s)elect more Bushites to destroy our infrastructure, our emergency services, our Constitution, the rule of law, our National Guard, the U.S. military, the U.S. economy, civil and human rights at home and abroad, labor rights, jobs, manufacturing, the integrity of U.S. pension systems, our scientific expertise, our educational system, our reputation as a fair, just, democratic people, all safety nets for the poor, all hope of upward mobility for the poor, all food and product safety, all progress toward a more peaceful world made in the last 100 years, all federal regulation of corporations, and our planet itself.

Minnesota's votes are "counted" by ES&S, which is even worse than Diebold for its far rightwing connections. The "trade secret," proprietary code they use to "count" all our votes is within THEIR voting machines and central tabulators. YOU don't have a right to review that code. Your secretary of state doesn't have a right to review that code. NOBODY but ES&S execs and techs have a 'right' to know HOW they are tabulating your votes. And 'Governor' Pawlenty and 'Senator' Coleman have certainly benefited from that.

Nothing short of a 100% handcount, and posting of the results BEFORE any electronics are used, can guarantee the accuracy of results in these extremely insecure and insider hackable machines. Many states have ZERO handcount. Minnesota, I believe, does 1% (very inadequate). For comparison, Venezuela, which uses electronic voting, but with OPEN SOURCE CODE--anyone may review the code by which the votes are tabulated--handcounts FIFTY-FIVE PERCENT of the votes, as a check on machine fraud! 55%! OUR machines, run on private SECRET source code, should have nothing less than a 100% handcount. They should NEVER have been purchased and installed all over this land with 0% to 1% audits. That is a prescription for corruption and tyranny.

You want to know why our political system is so messed up--why our politicians service the rich and the corporate, and to hell with the rest of us. THIS is why. It's not the only thing wrong with our election system, but it is the democracy-killer. It gives us no chance at desperately needed change.