The economic stimulus bill finally passed, and President Obama will sign it possibly as early as Tuesday. I got to thinking that the Republicans will do everything to stop it not because of the cost or the insufficient (for them) number of tax cuts, but for the fact that this bill will take money from some to help someone else.
For example, Republican Representative Candace Miller of Michigan voted against it in part because the bill is helping to finance bullet trains, particularly one to run between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Now why would she object to federal funding for bullet trains - indeed, all public transportation, as she intimated?
Gee, maybe because the preponderance of public transportation would cut into the very profitable business of Michigan's best known product - cars?
Rachel Maddow inexplicably couldn't see the logic of the Congresswoman's vote.
Expect Representative Miller to be very supportive of any future economic stimulus measure specifically aimed at highway spending.
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2 comments:
You're right on the money. Michigan politicos have been fighting public transportation in any form for years. In fact, the state of Michigan has no real, working public transportation system. The city buses are a joke, and Detroit's people mover is literally a train to nowhere that is empty most of the time. Commuting in Michigan is a Hellish nightmare of gridlock, road rage, and potholes. But hey, at least the lack of public transportation has insured that people will still buy cars and keep the Big Three afloat. Oh, wait....
It was always said, Audrey, that an effective way to rein in GM while they were destroying streetcar lines in this country was never found. I think President Obama finally found one!
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