[sleepless in Bham]

After reading in the Bham News Sunday where Dr. Robert Bentley made statement about him not supporting mass transit in Birmingham, and Ron Sparks plan for using bonds to pay for more road constuction in mostly rural areas of course, its a question I thought I should ask. Its seems like urban areas, especially Bham gets ''the **** end of the stick'' when it comes to state government.

[jakabedy]

My experience has been that Birmingham always gets the short end of the stick from Montgomery. And I've been here since 1987.

Of course the transit v. asphalt issue is controlled by the roadbuilders lobby. There really isn't a transit lobby, so . . .

[bluebeard]

Urban and inner suburban areas across the country across the country have revived much quicker than B'ham. B'ham is slowly progressing, not with the help of gov't, but in spite of it. There are a number of reasons this occurred, and I don't mean to get into these complicated inter-related factors, but of course, a more pro-urban gov't would have helped this. But the votes aren't there state-wide, so don't count on it. From the limited amount I've seen, I actually think policies haven't necessarily been pro rural, as much as pro outer sub-urban/ex-urban. The more economically successful places still tend to be based around a metropolitan core, but the solution to all problems seems to be subsidizing more road-building, farther out, more and further out developments, etc... Meanwhile the true rural areas and inner urban areas get little substantial or transformative help. The money and the votes seem to rest in the outer suburbs. Urban issues such as non-car based transportation usually do not even get coverage by state-wide candidates. Openly appealing to Birmingham residents would probably be pretty toxic to a state-wide candidate as well.

[Reactionary]

Huntsville has been paying for roads for the rest of the State (over the past 15 years we received 53 cents for each tax dollar).

Madison County, Huntsville, and Madison asked each gubernatorial candidate to sign the "gas tax pledge" to spend at least 80 cents for each tax dollar collected in Madison County on roads in Madison County (so we'll still be paying for roads elsewhere). Both Robert Bentley (R) and Ron Sparks (D) signed the pledge.

[ttownfeen]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

Huntsville has been paying for roads for the rest of the State (over the past 15 years we received 53 cents for each tax dollar).

Madison County, Huntsville, and Madison asked each gubernatorial candidate to sign the "gas tax pledge" to spend at least 80 cents for each tax dollar collected in Madison County on roads in Madison County (so we'll still be paying for roads elsewhere). Both Robert Bentley (R) and Ron Sparks (D) signed the pledge.

Where do you get that information? Is it available for other counties?

[Reactionary]

ttownfeen - the "gas tax pledge" was a big issue up here. Here's the first article from Googling "huntsville gas tax pledge":

The County Commission and the Huntsville and Madison city councils adopted resolutions last year asking that each candidate for governor sign the pledge.

It's official: Whitesburg, Weatherly overpasses are completed | al.com

If other counties want to make an issue of their share of gas tax funds, first get the facts:

A study sponsored by the City of Huntsville found that for 15 years (1990-2005) the state spent 53 cents on roads and bridges in Madison County for every $1 collected in gasoline taxes in the county.

The "gas tax pledge" vote got unanimous support (IIRC) from partisan Madison County Commissioners and non-partisan City of Huntsville and City of Madison Councilmembers. Gubernatorial candidates were asked to sign the pledge and were asked about it at just about every campaign event or forum. IMO it made a difference.

[bluebeard]

I'm not sure what that has to do with a pro-urban governor.

But that deal would be interesting if it was done for all federal taxes by state. Watch the jobs (and roads) in north Alabama vanish into thin air.
I never understood how a northern Alabamian could be "anti-government". And whoever thinks statewide Alabama republicans are anti-federal government must have missed the numerous buildings with the name "Shelby" on it and how the whole northern Alabama economy is based on the federal government.

[Reactionary]

National defense is a Constitutionally-mandated responsibility of the federal government.

Shelby's pork doesn't sit well with many Republicans and they are quite vocal about it. However, Shelby will keep the office until he dies or retires. IMO public buildings should not be named after living people.

Huntsville is an urban area; both candidates have pledged to guarantee funding for roads in Madison County because we've been getting ''the **** end of the stick".

[sleepless in Bham]

Huntsville getting the **** end of the stick??. Have you driven on any of Bham's major highways lately?. Oh and if Madison County is getting 53 cents for every transportation dollar it sends to Montgomery, thats generous compared to the 33-36 cents Jefferson County gets.

[sleepless in Bham]

Bluebeard, both candidates need to campaign in urban areas as much as possible, especially Bham. To think that voters across this state have anti-Bham envy is idiotic. Where do they think the majority of the state GDP comes from?. When they need medical treatment where do they drive to?, etc, etc. I fail to understand where this hate of urban areas in Alabama, and Bham in particular comes from?.