Mass Transit Infrastructure Investment Act of 2008 (At Final Vote)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Pork. Pork. All I see is pork.

I've no problem with the Executive spending money on projects like this or on the Regions doing the same, but this is not what a Legislature is supposed to be for. This is an abuse of the legislative process in a way so very like what happens in the United States.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

With respect, your post isn't very coherent, Al.

Eh, it's a little late here so...

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The problem isn't the money raising aspect, the problem is with the legislature determining (and actually determining not determing-in-theory) all the little details of government policy. It's an open invite for pork-barrel politics and thus corruption. It's also an appalling way of running a transport policy; instead of the places that need money getting it, the places that have people shouting for them the loudest that get it.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

So Al your point is that it should be block grant federal transportation money to the regions for them to spend as they see fit, or block grants period (for anything), or the Feds should not spend any money on this issue, or what? What is the fix? I like to clearly understand a point of view before commenting upon it.

The money raised from this tax should be given to the regions to spend on whatever mass-transit policies they feel like. No earmarks. Earmarks Bad. Bah.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Verily, I see your point (cue canned laughter and pained looks from audience), but I don't think that outweighs the earmarking problem. If you don't want the money to go to the regions, it would be better to go to a federal department.