The “war on cars” lobby did their best to derail a bi-partisan transportation bill, but failed as it passed the Republican-controlled State Senate today. One particular point of contention was that the bill “only” granted Sound Transit the authority to ask voters for $11 billion next year — instead of the $15 billion the agency originally sought. Sound Transit would be able to place ST3 on the ballot, and voters would decide whether or not to trust the untrustworthy agency with even more of their hard earned taxpayer dollars.
To the rational everywhere, the compromise seems generous. Comfort is only found in the fact that voters must first approve any new Sound Transit tax measure. To the irrational—those who, say, spend $65 billion (financing costs alone) breaking promises, under-delivering and overspending on a light rail projects—it’s just not good enough. Only the full amount is acceptable.
Fuse WA, the far-left organization behind many false attacks on Republicans, has evidently partnered with Sound Transit to express displeasure over the compromise amount. Fuse is attacking lawmakers for not supporting the full $15 billion, which would potentially mean more funding for light rail projects.
Of course, no mention is made of the truth. The generous assumption (considering the agency’s track record) that Sound Transit can meet ST3 promises on time and on budget is presented as fact. The reality is much different: Sound Transit is only projected to complete ST1 in 2016, 10 years late at double the cost. Taking that monumental failure into consideration, trusting Sound Transit with another $11 billion in taxing authority should be taken as a generous compromise… not as a means for attack.
Check out Fuse’s post below:
Hey I might have to get a copy of Call of Duty. Apparently Sound Transit is a villain in the ShiftWA version or something.
Translation: DIAL IT BACK A NOTCH. VOTERS WILL RENDER THE FINAL VERDICT AND YOUR INCIVILITY IS A MASSIVE TURN-OFF.
One particular point of contention was that the bill “only” granted Sound Transit the authority to ask voters for $11 billion next year — instead of the $15 billion the agency originally sought. Sound Transit would be able to place ST3 on the ballot, and voters would decide whether or not to trust the untrustworthy agency with even more of their hard earned taxpayer dollars. To the rational everywhere, the compromise seems generous.
To we voters in the central Puget Sound basin, who, by persistently large margins, favor mass-transit over more roads, this “compromise” gives us nothing and costs us precious time and money. It’s not like traffic here is getting any better, or that building costs will decline with time.
But, we understand: the welfare queens of Eastern Washington need tax money from central Puget Sound to pave their roads to nowhere, and if we here spend our money on effective transit solutions, we won’t care to send any more money to Olympia for paving Kettle Falls. Hence, this obstruction and “compromise.”
The Senate Majority Coalition utterly failed to produce a transport bill, and the result was more of Seattle’s tax money going for mass transit in Seattle. I’d rather see this bill fail, than to accept a “compromise” on how we can vote to spend our own money.
You seem a little……… Unhinged lately. You might want to dial it back just a little before you have a coronary. We wouldn’t want to lose our favorite liberal progressive now, would we.
At least I’m not advocating new taxes upon voters who, just last year, rejected a proposal to increase those same taxes. Now, that’s “unhinged” from reality in a major way!
Sure you are, you’re a liberal progressive democratic party supporter. You always have and always will tax & spend, that’s what you do. You keep spending on everything you want and raise taxes to cover your expenses with no intention of cutting your spending ever. You are like a kid with a trust fund of unlimited money to pay for your every silly fantasy. You can never stop the cycle of tax & spend until you choose to do so. The rest of us have made the choice to vote against your partys tax & spend policies. It’s time for you to put up or shut up. What’s it going to be?
Maybe we could raise more revnue with a king county vehicle tax. If you live anywhere in king county & own or lease a vehicle you would pay $600. annually to a public transportation fund. Another idea would be to tax vehicle parts sold in king county with a parts replacement fee of 10% of the total sale price. That would force people to get rid of their old cars and then use public transportation and the money would also go to public transportation. How about a homeowners parking tax? For every square footage of parking area you have on your property, a tax of 15% of the total property tax of that given year could force people to eliminate parking thus removing vehicles and provide needed money for public transportation. I still like the idea of taxing coffee, only use the money for public transportation.
Maybe we could raise more revnue [sic] with a king county vehicle tax.
Yes, conservatives very much enjoy having King County’s taxpayers foot the bill for their roads in Eastern Washington. Thank you for confirming my point.
I found a way to help our fellow citizens in King County & I am mocked by Dear Leader Inslees follower. I used Liberal Progressive ideas to accomplish your goals. I was under the impression that this is how the tax & spend democratic eco voter of the People’s Republic of Washington provided for what the people needed. If everybody contributes a little for the good of the socialist umbrella you so graciously provide for the party, the people will have happy lives. I ask everyone, please give thanks to Comrade Tensor.
King County’s voters recently rejected a tax increase for transportation. Why are you urging upon us a tax of the very type we voted down? Are you so dedicated to taxing and spending you believe we should just ignore the real votes, cast by us real voters, in real elections?