The other day, I commented that Ronald Reagan allowed for a federal gas tax 25 years ago because of the state of the interstate highway infrastructure. I made the comment that transportation budgets are always diverted to other things, and she jumped on my “always.” However, I think I have a better insight into government nature than she does.
This column enumerates some of the ways transportation,that is, gas tax, money is spent that doesn’t involve maintaining roadways:
As recently as July 25, Mr. Oberstar sent out a press release boasting that he had “secured more than $12 million in funding” for his state in a recent federal transportation and housing bill. But $10 million of that was dedicated to a commuter rail line, $250,000 for the “Isanti Bike/Walk Trail,” $200,000 to bus services in Duluth, and $150,000 for the Mesabi Academy of Kidspeace in Buhl. None of it went for bridge repair.
And:
Minnesota spends $1.6 billion a year on transportation–enough to build a new bridge over the Mississippi River every four months. But nearly $1 billion of that has been diverted from road and bridge repair to the state’s light rail network that has a negligible impact on traffic congestion. Last year part of a sales tax revenue stream that is supposed to be dedicated for road and bridge construction was re-routed to mass transit. The Minnesota Department of Economic Development reports that only 2.8% of the state’s commuters ride buses or rail to get to work, but these projects get up to 25% of the funding.
Here’s how it works:
- Government get general tax revenue.
- Government spends tax revenue on shiny things, not maintaining core government services (law enforcement) or infrastructure (roads).
- Shortfall in core services funding becomes an emergency requiring raised taxes/dedicated taxes.
- Government gets dedicated tax revenue in addition to general tax revenue.
- Government spends general tax revenue on shiny things and new dedicated tax revenue on shiny things, not on core services or infrastructure.
- Shortfall in core services funding becomes emergency requiring raised taxes.
The problem does not lie in the amount the government is getting and spending; it lies in the things the government buys.
But don’t tell the government or our elected/unelected “leaders” that. They like shiny things.
(Link seen on Instapundit.)
