http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/04/11/michigan-potholes/
Had enough of potholes lately? This might be of interest.
According to a story in Crains Detroit Business, at the end of March, Republicans in the Michigan state legislature are keeping a tight fist on road repair funds in Democratic districts, intentionally punishing Democrats for voting against Republican legislation that earmarked funding for road repair.
In other words, the Michigan GOP have painted Democrats into a corner and said, “Vote for our legislation or let your roads fall to mess.” Keeping up the roads in Michigan is a tough enough chore in a typical year, let alone one that follows such a harsh winter as last, and under a shrinking infrastructure to boot.
Despite the fact that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) plays a large role in assessing road damages and costs, millions of dollars of funding are awarded separately by legislatures each year, playing a large role in the range and effectiveness of MDOTs project capabilities from year to year. It is within that arena, that theater or studio (to continue the metaphor) that Michigan Republicans do their painting, taking lessons from George W. Bush, no doubt.
And just as the person painting is most often the one holding the paintbrush, state Republicans have mastered just the right strokes to garner a strong favorable lean toward their legislation by earmarking those desperately needed road repair funds within their own jurisdictions. Insisting on their usual tactic, Democrats must, as usual, acquiesce to Republican demands for little scraps of Democratic progress.
do you notice this sounds very similar to what that same republican party is doing in Washington and causing us all heartache and tribulations because they are only thinking of themselves and the rich and are getting bolder everyday they realize they have been served by this Administration, they are school yard bullies playing with American families, to stop this show up Nov. 4th and hit 'em where it hurts in the ballot box.
Twice just last year GOP lawmakers allocated “special funding” for road repair projects under their own control. The first time, both parties in the Senate were notified of the window to request projects but House Democrats were excluded from participation.
Why? According to deputy press secretary for House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) Anna Heaton:
They weren’t welcomed into the discussion because they didn’t vote for the funding.
According to press secretary for the House Democratic Caucus Katie Carey, Democrats voted against the $115 million special funding (which had been included in the overall state budget) because it lacked funding for the expansion of Medicaid, cut revenue sharing and other various issues, not because they were against funding road repair. In fact, consider how strong the conviction of Democrats who voted against the legislation must have been knowing they would take one on the chin over the terrible state of the roads that would result from allowing themselves to be painted in a political corner like that.
they are hurting you and your family behind sour grapes and refusal to enter the 21 st century, make them pay for what they have and are inflicting on you. some time an eye for an eye will not leave the majority blind just those who refuse to see anyway, no harm no foul.
