Local projects dropped or slashed in bonding bill

Roger D.
03/19/2010 7:15 AM

A bit of a deception? With the manner of layout, the Editors seem to imply Gov. Pawlenty axed funding for Alex. waste project. Sen. Bill tells it like it was. Sen. Langsleth, D.F.L. Glyndon, pulled that portion. Then has the gall to state the Governor can't be trusted. I think the "dirty politician" term is leaning in a pronouned fashion toward Langsleth.

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Kay P.
03/18/2010 10:16 AM

“The governor’s cuts will hurt many communities throughout the state who were looking to these trail projects to provide a much needed economic boost, vital outdoor recreation opportunities and health benefits for citizens,” said Brett Feldman of the Parks and Trails Council." Here is a novel thought...instead of throwing money at trails, how about enticing some new manufacture or production companies in MN that will bring jobs to get people out of their recliners? Wouldn't that be a boost to the economy, supply a health benefit by getting folks moving and as for outdoor activities, why not let individuals decide if they want to be outdoorsy? the great outdoors has always been there...but does it need to paved too? At the moment, many people are getting more depressed every day, as the potential jobs they are seeking do not materialize. The problem with government creating employment is, if the job isn't temporary(construction, etc), it becomes a lifelong expense for the State to payroll. It seems like no one wants to look at the obvious. Check out a monthly payroll for MN. http://www2.census.gov/govs/apes/08stmn.txt March 2008, this state spent $375 million on government employment paychecks, and another $380 million on education payroll. I bet every one of them thinks their job is important and should be funded. Add it up folks...approximately $9 BILLION is spent every year, just to pay these folks to do what they do. Now, just imagine, they do not produce a single marketable item, but in fact are in place to facilitate the allocation and redistribution of tax revenues and any federal aid. They "spend" it by following the laws that government created. To fill a pothole, they have to have someone report it, then someone has to view it, document it, maybe even mark it, perhaps several times by different people, then they have to make a cost/benefit analysis or submit it to a planning committee or submit to a dept head for approval, then starts the jockeying to get material bids and a crew there to do the job...just to throw some asphalt patch in a HOLE. Instead of that patch job consisting of materials and the labor to actually do it, it's been inflated grossly, by GOVERNMENT needing to have control over the entire process, and push a bunch of papers across a bunch of desks. GEEZ. Thay have wasted MORE money studying/planning/appropriating for the problem than it would cost to fix 100's of those holes. It would almost be easier to just write a check (x amount per year) to the local government and let them get the job done. It's usually has less desks to pass over and it would at least temporarily create employment at a local level, and be repeated when the next pothole season starts. This is just ONE example of many...if one thinks about how the government deals with problems. It's IMPOSSIBLE for them to deal with anything without having to jump thru a number of legal hoops created by their own legislation, just to get to the point in which it's recognized as a problem, and deemed worthy to fix. Then starts a new round of legislated hoops to pass thru to get the job done. Every special interest group out there that has demanded their issue be remedied has contributed to the exagerated process just to get something as simple as a pothole filled. Society is where it is today because it's been chasing the fallacy of fairness. People have tirelessly been chasing the dream that it is possible to create a utopia of complete fairness and equality at all levels and in all areas, in a world that is far from equal or fair by nature.

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Ron H.
03/18/2010 9:03 AM

My hat is off to our Governor, he seems to be the only person in our state gov. who believes that if we do not have the money don't spend it.

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Buck U.
03/18/2010 7:18 AM

Why should the state be paying for local projects anyway? If they are important, let the local politicians make the local tax payers pay for them.

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Roger D.
03/17/2010 9:56 PM

If $700,000,000 million is still more going on the books, than what is coming off, it is still to much.

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