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State Representative Carolyn Laine
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4331
For more information contact: Joan Nichols 651-29X-XXXX
NEWS COLUMN
Trouble At The Top
Disturbing information continues to be unveiled as probing questions are asked of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Under the questionable management of Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau, MnDot is sinking into the red. The Pawlenty Administration has been very aware of the situation yet has refused to offer leadership. Instead of seeking necessary funding, their choice has been to delay maintenance, postpone construction, force cities and counties to raise property taxes to loan the Department money for highway projects, ask contractors to front the money themselves for the Crosstown highway, and even to underfund snowplowing services across the state.
Now we have them awarding the bridge contract to the highest bidder while refusing to give any information on what that contract involves or how the decision was made. This same bidder has set the longest timeline knowing that if it completes it sooner than stated it will receive additional money. There is plenty of reason to question this process.
Adding salt to the wound of mis-management, MnDOT’s top disaster official remained out of the state for 10 days after the collapse of the bridge, having originally flown out for training in emergency responsiveness.
Flatly rejecting calls for a special legislative session to deal with our urgent need for transportation funding and the bridge collapse, the Pawlenty Administration is now trying to use a possibly unconstitutional method to pump $195 million into the ailing MnDOT. Along with this comes the attempt to shift blame to the legislature for the delay of other projects. In actuality, because MnDOT is nearly broke, it cannot provide the cash flow necessary to start the bridge reconstruction and continue the current projects, invoicing the federal government for reimbursement as it goes.
We deserve better leadership and management from this administration. We need clarity and honesty in dealing with our transportation infrastructure and safety. I am proud of the probing questions we are asking and the work being done in the House to address our very serious transportation funding needs.
I welcome your comments and concerns about this. She can be contacted at (651) 296-4331, by mail at 407 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or via e-mail at rep.Carolyn.Laine@house.mn.
October 5, 2007
Trouble At The Top
Disturbing information continues to be unveiled as probing questions are asked of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Under the questionable management of Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau, MnDot is sinking into the red. The Pawlenty Administration has been very aware of the situation yet has refused to offer leadership. Instead of seeking necessary funding, their choice has been to delay maintenance, postpone construction, force cities and counties to raise property taxes to loan the Department money for highway projects, ask contractors to front the money themselves for the Crosstown highway, and even to underfund snowplowing services across the state.
Now we have them awarding the bridge contract to the highest bidder while refusing to give any information on what that contract involves or how the decision was made. This same bidder has set the longest timeline knowing that if it completes it sooner than stated it will receive additional money. There is plenty of reason to question this process.
Adding salt to the wound of mis-management, MnDOT’s top disaster official remained out of the state for 10 days after the collapse of the bridge, having originally flown out for training in emergency responsiveness.
Flatly rejecting calls for a special legislative session to deal with our urgent need for transportation funding and the bridge collapse, the Pawlenty Administration is now trying to use a possibly unconstitutional method to pump $195 million into the ailing MnDOT. Along with this comes the attempt to shift blame to the legislature for the delay of other projects. In actuality, because MnDOT is nearly broke, it cannot provide the cash flow necessary to start the bridge reconstruction and continue the current projects, invoicing the federal government for reimbursement as it goes.
We deserve better leadership and management from this administration. We need clarity and honesty in dealing with our transportation infrastructure and safety. I am proud of the probing questions we are asking and the work being done in the House to address our very serious transportation funding needs.
I welcome your comments and concerns about this. She can be contacted at (651) 296-4331, by mail at 407 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or via e-mail at rep.Carolyn.Laine@house.mn.
October 5, 2007
Trouble At The Top
Disturbing information continues to be unveiled as probing questions are asked of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Under the questionable management of Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau, MnDot is sinking into the red. The Pawlenty Administration has been very aware of the situation yet has refused to offer leadership. Instead of seeking necessary funding, their choice has been to delay maintenance, postpone construction, force cities and counties to raise property taxes to loan the Department money for highway projects, ask contractors to front the money themselves for the Crosstown highway, and even to underfund snowplowing services across the state.
Now we have them awarding the bridge contract to the highest bidder while refusing to give any information on what that contract involves or how the decision was made. This same bidder has set the longest timeline knowing that if it completes it sooner than stated it will receive additional money. There is plenty of reason to question this process.
Adding salt to the wound of mis-management, MnDOT’s top disaster official remained out of the state for 10 days after the collapse of the bridge, having originally flown out for training in emergency responsiveness.
Flatly rejecting calls for a special legislative session to deal with our urgent need for transportation funding and the bridge collapse, the Pawlenty Administration is now trying to use a possibly unconstitutional method to pump $195 million into the ailing MnDOT. Along with this comes the attempt to shift blame to the legislature for the delay of other projects. In actuality, because MnDOT is nearly broke, it cannot provide the cash flow necessary to start the bridge reconstruction and continue the current projects, invoicing the federal government for reimbursement as it goes.
We deserve better leadership and management from this administration. We need clarity and honesty in dealing with our transportation infrastructure and safety. I am proud of the probing questions we are asking and the work being done in the House to address our very serious transportation funding needs.
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