Republicreep Pawlenty vetoes Minneapolis-St. Paul Central Corridor rail project

[marmar]

from the Pioneer Press:



Democrats blame Pawlenty for Central Corridor's apparent demise
Legislators don't see a way to bring it back
By Bill Salisbury
[e-mail]


Democrats at the state Capitol and in Congress have all but given up on saving the Central Corridor light-rail project after Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed state funding for the project on Monday.

At a Capitol news conference today, Democratic legislators, mayors and members of Congress paraded to a microphone to proclaim their outrage and disappointment in Pawlenty's veto of a $70 million state appropriation for the train in the University Avenue corridor between St. Paul and Minneapolis. But they offered no solutions to get it back on track.

"Our solution was on the table," Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, said referring to the funding lawmakers approved for the Central Corridor in a $925 million public works bill. Pawlenty used line-item vetoes to chop down that measure by $208 million.

Of nine Democrats who spoke, only two — Rep. Michael Paymar of St. Paul and Sen. Kathy Saltzman of Woodbury — expressed any hope that the $909 million project could be resuscitated. "I don't think the project is dead," Paymar said, noting that Pawlenty and the Legislature still could find a way to fund it.

Saltzman said she told St. Paul Chamber of Commerce officials, "We can't give up. We've worked way too hard in the east metro." Later, she said she would ask people close to the governor to urge him to "keep the door open" on the project.

But all the other speakers pronounced it deceased. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.twincities.com/ci_8851616?nclick_check=1

[nxylas]

1. Haven't you heard, public transportation is socialist

Good Republicans know that rugged individualism means wrapping yourself in two tons of metal to go to the end of the street. And don't worry about global warming or peak oil, the Rapture will happen before you'll suffer any consequences.

[nxylas]

2. I thought Pawlenty's name seemed familiar

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/04/veepstakes_the_ambinder_shortl.php

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. The worst part of it is that Pawlenty vetoed a transit package

that he himself negotiated.

Since McCain is notoriously anti-transit and anti-rail, I'm wondering if Timmy didn't come up with this unexpected veto to prove to McCain that he's the right man for the vice-presidency.

[KamaAina]

3. Maybe he could use his "First Amendment fee" as a funding source

:sarcasm:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/04/02/sprj.irq.minnesota.protesters/index.html

Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty is considering a proposal that would require demonstrators who get arrested to foot a portion of the bill for the time it takes police to place them in custody.

The idea -- not yet submitted to the state legislature -- comes in the wake of arrests of about 90 antiwar demonstrators in the Minneapolis area last week....

"While people have a right to free speech, they do not have a right to a free arrest," the governor wrote. "Restitution would not need to be in the full amount of the cost of the arrest, but the principle of restitution in such circumstances is important."

Kupchella said the governor is considering a fee of $200 to $300 for protesters who get arrested.

Who would have ever thought that the state of Humphrey and Mondale would produce someone who could challenge the likes of Sonny Perdue and Haley Barbour for the title of America's Worst Governor(TM)?

Oh yes, he's been mentioned as a possible running mate for 71-year-old "Johm" McCain. Be afraid. Be very afraid. :scared: :scared: :scared:

edit: spelling