10.30.09
DMN says, Hank “Gilbert has… guts”
What’s been missing from Texas politics, on the Democratic side, for many years, is a candidate that is not afraid to say what must be done. Someone who will show that there is a difference between Democrats and Republicans, and how electing good Democrats will benefit all Texans. It looks like we’ve finally got the candidate we’ve been missing.
The current contenders for the Democratic nomination for governor of Texas provides a great case in point. Yesterday Hank Gilbert released his reality based transportation plan that will make up for the neglect of the last 20 or so year, and fund transportation in Texas for years to come. His Democratic opponent gave what could best be described as a wishy-washy GOP-lite response, Asking Tom Schieffer’s transportation positions …
Is Tom Schieffer open to a tax increase to build roads?
UPDATE: Just now talked to Clay Robison of Schieffer’s campaign, who’s sending me an updated statement reflecting the candidate’s position on a tax increase. Here it is:
An 8 cents increase in the gas tax hits middle and lower income families the hardest. It also increases pressure on the small, independent businesses we need to create jobs here in Texas.
For that reason, a gas tax increase should be the last resort, not the first resort when it comes to funding our transportation needs. The legislature and the next governor should first look for waste and inefficiencies in the system before they start talking about an increase in the gas tax.
So I ask, if not taxes, if not tolls, then what? I don’t buy squeezing waste out of the system. You don’t find billions and billions that way.
Yes, that’s a very good question Tom, how? Has Tom Schieffer been out of the country for a while? Oh, why yes he has. He must have missed all of the toll/TTC wrangling over the last 8 years, and isn’t aware that we are down to last resorts. Come on Tom, you can do better.
On the other hand here’s what the DMN had to say about Hank’s plan, Hank Gilbert has transportation specifics:
At least Gilbert has the guts to own up to the cost of building and maintaining a first-class transportation system. Tom Schieffer came out critical of an 8-cent increase today but neglected to make clear that he was responding to his Democratic rival. We have yet to see a fleshed-out Schieffer plan, however.
Gilbert’s hostility to toll roads makes sense only if a higher gas tax would raise enough money to build the projects we need. Without lots of new money, this metro area can’t keep up without tolls.
The giant LBJ rebuild and North Tarrant Express project, for example, could never go forward without outside money and tolls, under the current revenue picture.
If a governor could squeeze that kind of tax money out of the Legislature, he or she would be a miracle worker. And it might take a miracle for a person to get elected while calling for a tax increase. Lots of political leaders thinks it’s needed, but few of them will admit it publicly.
When contrasting Hank’s “gutsy” statement with Schieffer’s gutless one it’s not hard to see who will stand up for working Texans when it’s needed. This is just one issue but it’s clear, from the way both candidates are handling it, that one is ready to lead and the other will get to be governor if others work hard.
Hank is the only candidate that has come up with a plan that will fix our state’s transportation infrastructure funding problems. Yes, if we want good roads we – meaning all Texans – will have to pay for them. We have a choice now. We can continue to elect politicians that tell us what we want to hear, that we can have roads without paying for them, or we can elect Hank.