Even after the darn bridge fell into the river, even though gas prices have gone through the roof, he refused to back a very modest gas tax increase for transit needs. But finally the House democrats were able to round up enough Republican support for a well-conceived transit plan. The Senate had a veto-proof vote, but we were still one vote shy in the House. The public pressure in response to Pawlenty's veto was huge. I think that this support for the DFL agenda is not just due to the very hard work of local grassroots organizations and politicians, although that is surely the case; it is also an effect of this election year's mobilization of energy. At the state level as well as the national level, a lot of people really want change.
Here's the message
Thanks to your faxes, calls, and emails, the Minnesota state legislature just voted to override Governor Pawlenty’s veto of the transportation bill !
This bill secures a dedicated source of funding for a transit system that will help Minnesotans reach their destinations safely and conveniently.
"This is a historic step forward for transit in Minnesota," says Lea Schuster, Executive Director of Transit for Livable Communities. "Our legislators needed to take decisive action, and they ultimately did what was best for Minnesota."
The transportation bill includes a 1/4 cent region-wide sales tax dedicated solely toward transit. This will generate approximately $117 million per year for transit needs across Minnesota. Ultimately, transit needs an estimated $235 million per year to fully leverage federal matching funds that currently go to other states, but this bill is a good step forward, notes Schuster.
Transit funding in the transportation bill will go toward the following:
* Construction of eight new dedicated transitways (i.e. light rail, commuter rail, and bus rapid transit)
* Doubling bus ridership by 2020
* Creating better transit facilities and new park & ride capacity
* Providing revenue to local governments for bicycle and pedestrian projects
* Expanding transit in Greater Minnesota
This could not have happened without your efforts! Thank you for making this a reality!
Best,
Transit for Livable Communities
Posts
2 comments:
Nice post, Momo.
You are correct, this is huge.
Let us hope that the energy you detect in the electorate and the legislature can be harnessed to do a better job at the University for students, staff and faculty.
Hopefully with a priority re-ordering.
Bonzo
You know, I don't always trust my political intuition, but at my caucus, Rep Hornstein and Scott Dibble were there, and they both talked about how they were going to come out swinging with this transportation package. I can see now that they must have prepared the way very very carefully, because they got about six Republicans to cross party lines, although I've read about how they have been very specifically threatened by the party bosses as a result. But they said things like "I have to do this" and seemed emboldened by public demand for action. So I'm hoping that this momentum can continue with other legislative bills. If there are some more successes like this, we could see a huge turnaround in the election. Nothing breeds hope like a little hope.
Post a Comment