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Opinion
Aug. 19, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Another Democrat wants higher taxes

Doesn't Washington already have enough money?

Shortly after this month's Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, which killed at least nine people, Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., proposed a 5-cent increase in the federal government's 18.3-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax to pay for bridge repairs across the country.

According to a federal audit, more than 70,000 bridges in the United States are structurally deficient -- including the Minneapolis span that crumbled. Repairing all of them would cost about $200 billion over the next 20 years, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.

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    • Rep. Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, cast his proposed tax increase as a moderate request that would funnel about $8 billion per year into a fund that would be dedicated exclusively to bridge and highway repairs. (Now where have we heard that kind of assurance before? Social Security, anyone?)

    "If you're not prepared to invest another five cents in bridge reconstruction and road reconstruction, then God help you," Rep. Oberstar told the Rochester Post-Bulletin.

    Nothing like shaming the masses to convince them cough up more of their hard-earned cash.

    Add Rep. Oberstar's plan to about a half-dozen other pending Democratic proposals that involve taking more money out of your pocket.

    But Rep. Oberstar and his ilk can't avoid the most obvious question, one that should be raised anytime a subordinate asks his boss to bolster his expense account: What are you doing with the rest of your money?

    Rep. Oberstar would have Americans believe there isn't a spare nickel in all of Washington. As the watchdogs at Citizens Against Government Waste so dutifully point out, Congress has spent more than $69 billion on frivolous pork over the past three years alone. The 2005 highway bill, which was larded up with low-priority projects including Alaska's "Bridges to Nowhere," already allocates $2 billion per year for bridge repairs.

    Rep. Oberstar himself partook in the 2005 porkfest, scoring $14.6 million for his Duluth-area constituents, primarily to extend the nation's longest paved recreation trail.

    Now Rep. Oberstar wants all of Congress to go cold-turkey on earmarks. He assures us that despite the hundreds of billions of dollars wasted on earmarks and low-priority road projects over the years, the madness will finally stop if only his 5-cent per gallon gasoline tax increase is passed.

    "Yes," taxpayers will reply. "Just as the 1986 Immigration Reform & Control Act was the absolute last amnesty Congress would ever award to illegals."

    It's good that Rep. Oberstar has sworn to adhere to fiscal responsibility, but not unexpected that it took a disaster in his own back yard to make him realize that Congress has been derelict in maintaining federal infrastructure. Had he and his spendthrift colleagues paid attention to their duties and fought for this principle but a few years ago, he wouldn't have to ask for a tax increase.

    If there is a consensus in Washington that bridge and highway repairs must be a higher priority in the federal budget, lawmakers should simply cut back on the pork and have the Transportation Department make it a significant priority.

    Let's be clear: There is absolutely no reason for Congress to raise taxes for anything, let alone for a few billion dollars worth of maintenance and repairs.

    Fortunately, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has dismissed Rep. Oberstar's idea, and President Bush has pledged a veto.

    Congress is still the spoiled teen who runs up Daddy's credit cards on outfits she'll wear only once. Maybe if lawmakers learn to be responsible with other people's money, they won't have to ask for so much more, so damn often.



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    tim wrote on August 31, 2007 03:37 PM: can someone tell randy to go back to the republic of california and spout his leftist dribble where its appreciated. this is nevada dont ruin it.


    Henry J. wrote on August 28, 2007 11:39 PM: I just love it when uninformed Democrats try to convince themselves that all the super-rich are nasty Republicans who want to tax the more so they don't have to pay taxes themselves. Ever actually look at who the rich are, and then which political party they support? Most of them are Democrats. PUL-EASE!


    Bob Mullenix wrote on August 21, 2007 06:15 AM: This editorial is right on!!!
    Thankfully we have those in congress and the white house that are somewhat fiscally responsible. We have in government what we have asked for...we the people must hold them accountable.


    Nodhmo wrote on August 20, 2007 08:17 AM: It is simple really how about we reduce the growth rate of ALL government programs except for Military funding and use that money for infrastructure.


    William Kirk wrote on August 19, 2007 07:16 PM: If Minnesotans want to pay for bridge repairs they can enact legislation in own state legislature. I do not see any need for me in California to for their roads.

    If I not mistaken, there is nothing in the Constitution stopping them from doing it.


    Randy wrote on August 19, 2007 01:09 PM: Has anyone besides me noticed that Sherm Fredericks and Thomas Mitchell have never discussed or made public their annual income?

    I thoroughly agree with eliminating Congressional boondoggles and Congressional pork. But the RJ's stance on this issue is inane.

    Boys, if you want to do something intelligent and usefull, persuade your private Country Club friends in Congress to slash the amount of gasoline taxes that the Federal government keeps. Send that money back to the states with a mandate that it be used on roads and brides.

    Stop little Georgie from wasting our tax monies and soldiers lives. Let him go back to Texas and play cowboy on his little wooden horse.


    DaveR wrote on August 19, 2007 12:36 PM: Mr Austin claims that the Ds lie, tax and have bad decisions; like the last 6 years didn't happen?! Republican Congressman Foley IS a pedophile.

    denial denial denial


    George Austin wrote on August 19, 2007 12:14 PM: These liberal dems are so adept at lying they can compete with CAIR in the disinformation area. Lies, taxes and holding others responsible for their own bad decisions. Now if it were found that Harry Reid was a pedophile the comparison would be complete.


    say what wrote on August 19, 2007 11:59 AM: 2 billion a month for the iraq war..the govt.needs more tax money..is the iran war next???quick raise the taxes...


    RussBBinVegas@aol.com wrote on August 19, 2007 11:49 AM: Yep, the Dems think society should carefully & realistically decide what we need, and then be willing to pay for it, in taxes. The Repubs on the other hand, want the exact same governmental services but since rich people loathe anything chipping away at their Cadillacs, let's just slide the bill onto the next generation. Oh, what's the tab now, $9 trillion? Keep THAT little nugget out of the R-J editorials. Ever since Walter Mondale, what party-pooper politician would be fool enough to even bring up the T word. Nice joy ride it's been folks, especially here in Vegas, but the piper is waiting in the wings, something fierce.


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