SHOCKER, RIGHT?
|| By FITSNEWS || Unnecessary transportation projects do not constitute a “road funding shortfall.” They’re just unnecessary projects … which result in unnecessary spending. And funding such projects won’t do a damn thing to “fix our roads.”
Try telling that to tax-and-spend “Republican” politicians in the South Carolina General Assembly, though … who are all about blowing money on wasteful projects while real needs go unaddressed. And after borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars to cover up their failure … they try and pass along the cost of their incompetence to you.
Anyway …
S.C. governor Nikki Haley claims to be fighting these liberal “Republicans,” but the truth is she’s been a big part of the problem. In addition to approving deficit spending during her first term (which Haley now claims to oppose), the governor has also fought for wasteful expansions while watching maintenance funding get cut.
“Average annual funding for the state Department of Transportation’s highway maintenance program dropped by more than $40 million, or nearly 16 percent, during Gov. Nikki Haley’s first four years as governor compared to her predecessor’s administration,” according to a review conducted by reporter Rick Brundrett of The Nerve. “The drop is even bigger – about $73 million and 25 percent – when adjusted for inflation.”
Of course Brundrett points out that Haley and “Republican” lawmakers want to pump $255 million into the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank (STIB) – which subsidizes expansion projects. That’s a 400 percent increase over the budget approved during Haley’s first year in office.
And we all know that Haley didn’t lift a finger during her first four years in office when it came to vetoing items in state budgets …
“Instead of trying to find money in the existing state budget to address increased road maintenance needs statewide, Haley and legislators are pushing different tax-hike proposals,” Brundrett reported.
That’s true …
Haley wants an immediate gas tax hike tied to the promise of future individual income tax relief. Meanwhile “Republican” lawmakers in the House want a $427 million tax hike on motorists, and the “Republican-controlled” Senate is mulling an $800 million hike.
This website has consistently opposed all three proposals …
25 comments
FITS lobbying for a GIGANTIC pot of money the Democrats can take from us…and WASTE, again…
Doesn’t FITS claim to be a social LIBERAL…and fiscally responsible (can’t use the word: “Conservative” and FITS in the same sentence, w/o the word HATE.) ….BUSTED….LMAO….
Wonder WHY FITS has NO credibility for honesty???…Wonder no more….
Get a fucking job you Irmo bum. Contribute to society….get out of the 47%.
You can always tell when I NAIL them, and they KNOW it…LMAO…
Ladies and Gents: This dumbass wouldn’t know if a nail HIT HIM on the head.
I am going to show up at your front door and watch you pee in your pants.
I don’t care about you Tango — you’re beyond repair. The only reason I converse with you is that it entertains me. Now go read the help wanted section. Maybe you can play a dwarf at one of TBG’s parties.
Get a life, you fucked up moron.
That you FITS?…or Karl w/ a K?…LMAO….
Lawmakers may be preoccupied with taking prom pictures of their offspring.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/06/confederate-flag-prom-photo_n_7219802.html
Oh, it was in Colorado . . .
To build an interstate (I 526) to a sea island has to be beneficial to only a few. Why push development onto a rural area? GREED. (County councilman Rawls & family have property there)
It will cost over a half BILLION dollars that will be borrowed.
Spend some time at the intersection of US 17 and Main Rd in Charleston County and you will note that not all traffic is headed to a “sea island”. Johns and Wadmalaw Islands do not border the “sea” and are being heavily developed.
No, a “barrier” island borders the sea.
DOT can’t maintain what they have, yet the development continues.
You must not know much about Johns Island if you don’t know it’s called a sea island. And Wadmalaw is not being heavily developed. They could do wonders for Johns Island traffic by just widening Maybank Hwy to match the lanes on the bridge.
Only in South Carolina, build an interstate to nowhere for $700+ million instead of widening a one-mile stretch of highway.
Its up to ONE BILLION dollars (adjusted cost with inflation).
This is always going to be an issue in SC. Even though we are only the 40th largest state by size we have the 4th highest number of state maintained roads by mileage in the country. This stems from the push in the 50’s, when we were primarily an agricultural state, to develop the best farm to market system in the country. Our deferred maintenance on those roads is high but that doesn’t mean that some new or improved roads are not also needed due to population increases. I don’t know any road contractors who work for free so we need to raise the money somehow. Gas taxes aren’t enough given that fuel economy has gone up and people are buying as much gas. We are paying for our years of ignoring the maintenance needs in an effort to keep our taxes low. Road contractors don’t work for free. Time to pay the piper if you want good roads.
Farm to market roads are normally triple treated rock and tar roads-depending on traffic and resurfacing is done the same. Very seldom is a farm to market asphalted-in this county at least. I say that the I526 extension isn’t worth the $500 million cost. The I73 interchange in Horry County is another waste-especially since I73 isn’t built yet or route is not fully determined. DOT commission is a joke appointed by politicians to further their own self interest.
New estimated cost for the I-526 project as reach ONE BILLION dollars.
the answer is not more money!!! it is spending it wisely and not wasting. look at the state dept of education, ethics commission and sc comptroller just to name a few. sc has consistently been amongst the lowest ranking state in education for decades. just consider the money that has been used to support that agency, the building, the employees, the perks, the budgets….for what……..consistent failure. close these useless, unproductive agencies and use funds that are desperately needed in other areas, such as road maintenance. it’s OUR $$$$, we need to demand accountability.
South Carolina gas taxes have not been increased since 1987. Our gas taxes pay 90% of the cost of road repairs which is the highest percentage of state road construction costs paid by gas taxes in the country. Our rate of 16 cents per gallon is the third lowest in the country. How do you expect to maintain the country’s 4th largest state maintained road network with the country’s 3rd lowest gas tax rate? For those who say more money is not the answer, then tell us what the answer is. Our state highway department already does more with less money than any highway department nationwide. These numbers all come from http://www.sctransportation.com/highway-facts.html. We are getting what we pay for.
Great point. Why would anyone expect that nothing related to road costs has gone up since 1987?
Unless it plays to the Caucus in Iowa, Tricky Nikki will do nothing to help the citizens of THIS state. Maybe we can convince Iowa they need roads or speak with the Koch Brothers to give their permission to Nikki.
On Cartoon Network’s (I believe) “Adult Swim” segment late at night, they flash this little blurb now and then about a guy somewhere who draws dicks on or around pot holes in his town. This has served as an incentive for their road maintenance crews to fix said potholes faster and hopefully cover the offensive artwork.
Maybe some aspiring artists in SC should do this.
The shit could hit the fan as more and more citizens of South Carolina want to get in their faces and do a Harry Reid on them. These lawmakers are inciting citizens everywhere to start saying that they new a good old ASS KICKING. Many do not care that they might have to do a little time in jail over a simple assault charge.
The powers that be don’t want to require the Infrastructure Bank to fund high-priority projects first. They know what’What’s the point of having your hand in the cookie jar if you can’t steal money for boondoggles in your own district?
Editing fail…