Walker Budget Eliminates Transit As Transportation, So No Dedicated Money From Gas Taxes

[marmar]

from The Political Environment blog:




Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Walker Budget Eliminates Transit As Transportation, So No Dedicated Money From Gas Taxes


In an enormously destructive move, Scott Walker's budget removes transit as a transportation category - - per Walker, transportation budgets are now the private preserve of the road-builder - - so "financing transit operation aids from the general fund will begin in fiscal 2012-2013."

That means bus systems will have to fight with other services for state aid in a shrinking state budget - - while highway aids gets a $410.5 million increase.

Look for local bus systems to raise fares, cut services, lay off drivers, then die.

We'll be arriving at the Walker Promised Land, where every low-income person has a car, insurance, money for maintenance, repairs and fuel. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2011/03/walker-budget-eliminates-transit-as.html

[houstonintc]

1. Walker is the Paragon of the Right

For hard right Americans walker really is doing everything they ever dreamed of. Pitty only now that Americans are getting a good look at what it really is.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Every time somebody looks at that bill, they find more gems in it.

Republican Governors in this state have a lot of friends who pour concrete. So we have a large number of giant concrete prisons connected by marvelous superhighways. This is a nacceleration of a rend begun under Tommy the Turd.

[somone]

3. The dumb fuck didn't come up with this by himself

There was much thought behind his budget - from his corporate masters.

[madrchsod]

4. where i live in northern illinois we are increasing funding rural bus routes

we just received funding to expand public bus to rural areas and two million+ bus terminals and offices. along with the funds we received from wisconsin the northern region of illinois will have train access to chicago.

this is what happens when one elects a democratic governor and have a few republicans that look out for their constituents. the rail line goes through the heart of conservative republican districts.the bus service is in three republican districts.

[elocs]

5. "Bill could wreck mass transit; millions in federal aid at stake":

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=487943&mesg_id=487943

[DBoon]

6. "if you can't afford a car, you don't belong here"

What next dedicated transit lanes for luxury vehicles? Privately operated of course so your BMW doesn't have to ride behind someone's old Chevy.

[Dappleganger]

7. That directly affects the POOR.

Keeps them "in their place" and from being able to get across town to interview or work. Keeping the poor immobile is yet another form of slavery. So many businesses have shut down, they have no place left to go but the street corner.

[Greybnk48]

8. My BIL is Developmentally disabled and cannot drive.

His lifeline is the bus system in our town in WI--to get to work (when someone will hire him), to the store for groceries,clothes, etc. to get to the Dr. and to visit people. The four or so months it's warm enough, he rides his bike. But he's been mugged on his bike and hit by a pick-up truck with three laughing goons that really hurt him.

He has a volunteer that takes him shopping for his large order, but he runs back for odds and ends just like the rest of us. It's very often way too cold to walk (he also has osteo-arthritic knees and he's getting into his mid-50's).

This will be devastating if it passes.

[Solly Mack]

9. K&R

[Liberal Gramma]

10. Republican philosophy: if poor people want to get to work, let them buy cars.

[Jkid]

11. We'll be arriving at the Walker Promised Land, where every low-income person has a car..."

>implying Walker would actualy pay for a car for every low-income person.

The most he could do is a $1,000 voucher for each person a to buy a beater. Bootstraps for the rest. Scott Walker, another automobile whore because he's assumes that everyone, including the developmentally disabled, can afford or can actually drive.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. It also means that gas taxes can be used for any purpose

given the fiscal discipline shown by most pols, that is a bad thing.