Republican-dominated Legislature is an unattainable goal, should the governor
and legislative leaders shift their focus toward creating toll roads on
Michigan highways?
to our sister paper, The (Mount Pleasant) Morning Sun, in his weekly column.
a contingent of conservative GOP lawmakers to vote for a tax increase – or placing
a sales tax hike on the ballot – was probably futile. Especially in an election
year, with lawmakers taking off for the summer to campaign.
roads. In particular, the Michigan congressional delegation should use its clout to make turnpikes a reality.
those who
drive
the most pay the most to maintain infrastructure.
“True,
the federal government makes it difficult to put up tolls on interstate
highways. Nevertheless, Michigan is in a unique position of having
significant bipartisan
influence in Washington.
“Midland’s
Dave Camp chairs the Ways & Means Committee in the U.S. House of
Representatives, while his GOP colleague, Fred Upton, heads the powerful
Energy & Commerce Committee. Meanwhile, Reps. John Dingell
and
John Conyers carry real influence with Democrats. In the U.S. Senate,
Carl Levin may be retiring, but he has many favors to call in before
leaving office at the end of the year. Then there is President Barack
Obama, who owes Michigan something after receiving the Wolverine
State’s votes in both of his campaigns (this would even help
Democrats,
as Rep. Gary Peters could use this in his race to replace Levin).
“All
of these powerful politicians have the power to secure the necessary
federal waivers for Michigan to convert some of its interstate
highways to tollways.”
