Vote Yes?

I've seen a lot of these billboards around lately. "Vote Yes - For Better Roads and Transit".

I knew absolutely nothing about this issue (which probably makes sense since according to the media I'm the lone lunkhead planning to throw himself in front of the onrushing Liberal Locomotive next month…), so I decided to investigate.

First, I went to the website - Vote Yes Minnesota. Here, I learned that this is a push for a transportation amendment to the state’s constitution. If it passes, Minnesotans will reap the following orgasmic rewards:

Less time stuck in traffic!
Support for our rural economy!
Safer travel!
More jobs and stronger economy!
Cleaner environment!
More travel options!

Sounds heavenly! But still, being the only idiot stacking sandbags in front of the impending Democratic Deluge, I had questions. Like why do we need to amend the constitution to achieve such ecstasy when we already have a hefty $0.20/gallon state gas tax? Again, the website had answers:

Currently, only 54 percent of the existing motor vehicle sales tax revenue is being spent on transportation and there is no dedicated revenue source for public transit. If the Transportation Amendment is approved by voters, 100 percent of the revenue will go to highways and public transit.

OK. Although I am that single simpleton attempting to soak up the coming Tsunami of Sensitivity with a kitchen sponge, it’s starting to come into focus. (Key phrase – “…there is no dedicated revenue source for public transit…”) So how will it work? To find out, I read the amendment’s actual verbiage:

"Sec. 12. Beginning with the fiscal year starting July 1, 2007, 63.75 percent of the revenue from a tax imposed by the state on the sale of a new or used motor vehicle must be apportioned for transportation purposes described in section 13, then the revenue apportioned for transportation purposes must be increased by ten percent for each subsequent fiscal year through June 30, 2011, and then the revenue must be apportioned 100 percent for transportation purposes after June 30, 2011.

Sec. 13. The revenue apportioned in section 12 must be allocated for the following transportation purposes: not more than 60 percent must be deposited in the highway user tax distribution fund, and not less than 40 percent must be deposited in a fund dedicated solely to public transit assistance as defined by law."

Remember, I’m that solitary backward buttplug trying to stop up our upcoming Enema of Enlightenment. However, doesn’t “not more than 60%” toward highways and “not less than 40%” toward public transit mean that this amendment could potentially pave the way to nothing for roads and everything for boondoggle light rail lines?

Think I’m gonna have to vote NO on this one. Of course, I could have reached this conclusion by simply glancing at the bottom of the website, which features both Tim Pawlenty and Mike Hatch supporting the amendment.

Group-think always makes this feebleminded fool, this retardant to the approaching Progressive Pyre, nervous.

Global Warming Update - Twin Cities
10/23/06 Observed high temp - 39
10/23/05 Observed high temp - 48
10/23 Record high temp - 82 - 1899