Is there a state with worse potholes then minnesota? (Minneapolis: appointed, credit)

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Originally Posted by Camden Northsider

Well, I think it's only "fair" to look at his record in this department (public works, transit, infrastructure improvements, etc.)- granted, ever since the bridge collapsed, he claims this to be one of his big priority areas, albeit his record still doesn't really reflect that- of the many taxes he's consistently vetoed included a number intended to increase transportation/roads spending.

Pawlenty chops $1B construction bill to $680M | StarTribune.com (http://www.startribune.com/local/87651762.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU - broken link)

AFL-CIO NOW BLOG | Minnesota Bridge Collapsed 1 Year Ago. Bush, Pawlenty Stall on Action (http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/08/01/minnesota-bridge-collapsed-1-year-ago-bush-pawlenty-stall-on-action/ - broken link)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/us/07highway.html

I am strongly against Pawlenty when it comes to most social issues but admittedly I'm on the fence for his stance on the state's budget, and to a certain extent I respect his efforts to maintain a balanced budget while avoiding tax increases when possible (although he obviously goes way overboard with this), as a result of the massive budgetary challenges he faces in a terrible economy. Even though alot of people think he's screwing stuff up, I think he has good intentions. I actually support his push for lowering corporate taxes as an effort to bring new businesses to Minnesota and retain existing businesses.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Slig

A harsh winter that has taken its toll on roads in Minnesota and you're throwing all the blame on the governor?? I understand the state has major budget and funding issues and although it's fair to place some of the responsibility on the Pawlenty, the economic recession/housing crisis has definitely played a larger role. The roads have a few days without snow and you're already claiming it's the governor's fault though? Give me a break. If it's August and the potholes are still there then we have a conversation.

I am being fair, in past years road crews would be out fixing at least the worst pot holes. Hotlines were set up to call in major ones so people didn't get hurt. Since TPaw has an asinine theory that prices never go up in 4 years and therefore taxes shouldn't be raised no matter what, our healthy state budget has crumbled to one of the worst in the nation. It is his fault--see Camden's post about the line item vetos once again. All he is doing is driving away good people from the state that don't want to put up with this crap.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Yeah, I mean it's obviously not the best solution to the problem, but I also don't think raising taxes in a very sensitive economy is a very good idea either. It's basically a lose/lose and Pawlenty's strategy seems to be more in the mindset that if he makes sacrifices to public services in order to keep tax rates down that it'll help the state's economy.

My own personal take on the budget is a bit too non-traditional to be accepted in the mainstream...I'd basically go crazy on sin-taxes in order to make up for the recession-related budget shortfalls. I'd do this by:

-decriminalizing drug crimes, empty out the prisons of non-violent criminals and rework legal system to give them a combination of heavy financial penalties, forced community service and/or military service instead.
-legalize casinos and all kinds of gambling in the state (outside of the reservations) wth a healthy level of it going back to the state gov't. Set aside appropriate amount for addiction, awareness and prevention.
-legalize pot, tax it at or above the cigarette tax level, make sure it is tightly regulated and only permitted in very select designated areas, increase studies, awareness and prevention programs with some of the tax revenues, the rest goes towards general fund.
-legalize prostitution, tax heavily with healthy amount of proceeds going towards education, awareness, prevention and safety and protection of prostitutes. Once again, it should only be in select designated areas.
-end farm subsidies and programs that pay farmers not to produce. I've talked to several farmers about these programs and they all hate them, they are a waste. Allow the market to determine a fair price for a crop based on supply and demand.

The combination of all of this would provide the state with more funding than it'd know what to do with.

[marmac]

I am a firm suporter/believer in toll roads.

Many other states have them.

[marmac]

Originally Posted by Slig

Yeah, I mean it's obviously not the best solution to the problem, but I also don't think raising taxes in a very sensitive economy is a very good idea either. It's basically a lose/lose and Pawlenty's strategy seems to be more in the mindset that if he makes sacrifices to public services in order to keep tax rates down that it'll help the state's economy.

My own personal take on the budget is a bit too non-traditional to be accepted in the mainstream...I'd basically go crazy on sin-taxes in order to make up for the recession-related budget shortfalls. I'd do this by:

-decriminalizing drug crimes, empty out the prisons of non-violent criminals and rework legal system to give them a combination of heavy financial penalties, forced community service and/or military service instead.
-legalize casinos and all kinds of gambling in the state (outside of the reservations) wth a healthy level of it going back to the state gov't. Set aside appropriate amount for addiction, awareness and prevention.
-legalize pot, tax it at or above the cigarette tax level, make sure it is tightly regulated and only permitted in very select designated areas, increase studies, awareness and prevention programs with some of the tax revenues, the rest goes towards general fund.
-legalize prostitution, tax heavily with healthy amount of proceeds going towards education, awareness, prevention and safety and protection of prostitutes. Once again, it should only be in select designated areas.
-end farm subsidies and programs that pay farmers not to produce. I've talked to several farmers about these programs and they all hate them, they are a waste. Allow the market to determine a fair price for a crop based on supply and demand.

The combination of all of this would provide the state with more funding than it'd know what to do with.

What state farm subsidies are you talking about that pay farmers not to produce ?

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Originally Posted by marmac

What state farm subsidies are you talking about that pay farmers not to produce ?

Yeah, I obviously know very little about farming. Ok, so it's just federal then? Fine, bonus on the federal budget....wouldn't hurt the state budget at all so no loss.

[gracie09]

Storrow Drive and the Southeast Expressway in Massachusetts are notorious for such complaints. I'm not sure how much luck you would have getting your local officials to look at the resulting bills. I know in Mass they have a law/policy depending on the area which states that damage is not the fault of state or town departments as it is "understood" you are traveling the roads at your own risk.

As if : GEE, potholes are looking particularly bad today, guess I'll stay home from work, school etc.

Oh well, look on the bright side winter can only last another uh, month or two, how bad can it get

gracie

[pepe1]

Originally Posted by Slig

-end farm subsidies and programs that pay farmers not to produce. I've talked to several farmers about these programs and they all hate them, they are a waste. Allow the market to determine a fair price for a crop based on supply and demand.

In the 'for what it's worth" column...The rise in demand for corn based ethanol effectively eliminated the federal programs that paid farmers to set land idle. These types of crop reserve programs have more or less been gone for 10+ years now. I'm not sure what farmers you were talking to, but prior to the ethanol explosion, farmers LOVED crop reserve programs. Crop reserve was guaranteed money versus gambling against mother nature for land that was in production.

What does still exist are programs for wildlife preservation and hunting promotion (Pheasants Forever, for instance). Payments are still made to farmers to set land idle for these types of programs.

[fashionguy]

I think this year it is particularly bad. Very noticeable. I am sure complaints will be more and more if this situation continues and finally they will do something about the problem.

Originally Posted by smith21

I cant beleive how bad the potholes are on university near hwy 280.

[Drover]

The whole upper Midwest has been hammered with a one-two-punch of two harsh winters in a row during a time of budgetary crises at nearly every level of government. So don't get to thinking Minnesota has a monopoly on the pothole problem. Right about now, roughly half the roads north of Indianapolis look like strips of moon craters.