Most Recent Comments
1) Re: 2009 Senate Bill 254 (Appropriations: 2009-2010 Department Of Transportation ) [by Admin003 on June 28, 2009]
Rep. Opsommer, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:
“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:
I am both surprised and disappointed, not just that money is being stripped from the 127 project but that my amendment to restore that funding was gaveled down without the benefit of a bi-partisan opportunity for proper vote. I am also voting ‘no’ on this budget because it takes up to $18 million dollars for the Transportation Economic Development Fund and redirects it instead to the General Fund for non-road purposes.
It makes no sense to say on the one hand that we don’t have enough money for roads and then turn around and give some of the limited road money we do have to the general fund. Transportation Economic Development dollars are generated from driver’s license fees and are supposed to be used for financing road and street projects specifically in support of economic growth. State government first has to show it places a high priority on roads if we expect taxpayers to do the same; we should not be diverting money from taxes on gasoline, licenses, or registration fees to other things. There is simply too much road money being stripped out of this bill for me to vote for it. Taxpayers have a proper expectation that those dollars be used for roads.”
Reply
As a Activist against these wrong (corrupted) politicians who only think about getting paid from these private people. I think that the subject of having transportation should involve the Community Citizens as well. Who are the people who will benefit from this modern day movement aka mass Transportation? I live in the City of Highland Park, and its a sad affair that the City is being sold out by our own elected officials who is kissing butts of these investors. Highland Park is a small 2.9 square mile City that's inside of Detroit. Our boundries are (North) Six Mile Rd, (South)) Tennyson, (West) US-10 " John Lodge Freeway ", and on the (EAST) I-75 Freeway.
Our Main street is Woodward Avenue a two lane street going North & South, and I can not picture the modern age transportation going up & down Woodward. My Community group has submitted a proposal plan that involves the usage of the Grand Truck Rail tracks that's runs North & South on the Eastside of Highland Park. We suggested that the light railing be used from (what we call the Milwaukee junction) where the North & South bound Amtrak travels throught Highland Park. Which pick-up & drop-off points at Cariff Street plus Six Mile Road. These two locations can service Highland Park with the use of a bus shuttle service to & from Downtown Highland Park. Whatever Detroit, Ferndale, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, and Pontiac does that's their business, but the Citizens here in Highland Park better think about the impact that this will have on our Communities. In Closing, Its a shame that our own State Representative is trying to sell our City out. Whereas Transportation may be good for some Cities it might not be the best plan for all Cities.
Reply
Senator Basham’s statement is as follows:
I’d like to answer, relative to Senate Bill No. 254, a couple of comments from the previous speaker. One is, “Do we need another crossing?” And I would say according to federal highway, our Canadian partners, and MDOT, the answer is, “Yes.”
And I would also like to respond with, obviously, there is a disagreement between the DIVC and the DRIC folks, but I guess if they were here to ask questions, they would say, “Where are the permits for Ontario, for Windsor, for Detroit, for MDOT, for federal highway, for the Coast Guard, from the DIVC folks, who say they’ve had all the permits?” But the articles I’m reading in the Free Press and other papers are saying they are going ahead building a second span themselves without local, state, or federal approvals to do that.
So, again, we are talking about the budget here; that’s just a small part of it, but I would be glad to have those conversations with the Majority Floor Leader, off the floor—if he’d like.
Reply
View Full Conversation
