Earlier this week I posted a quick heads up: WISPIRG Releases a Must Read Report on Road Funding. On Wednesday I talked with WISPIRG’s Kyle Bailey about the report and the purpose behind it. As their press release states:
- Federal gasoline taxes were originally intended for debt relief, not roads.
- Highways, roads and streets have received more than $600 billion in subsidies over the last 63 years in excess of the amount raised through gasoline taxes.
- The amount of money a particular driver pays in gasoline taxes bears little relationship to his or her use of roads funded by gas taxes. Drivers pay gasoline taxes for the miles they drive on local streets and roads, even though those proceeds are typically used to pay for state and federal highways.
By publishing the report WISPIRG is hoping to inform the coming debate on transportation before it gets going. The group supports a transparent and holistic approach to solving the Wisconsin’s transportation problems based on current and projected future needs. One of their key points is to focus on road maintenance rather than expansion. WISPIRG is planning to reach out to State and Local elected officials as the debate heats up. The report goes into a lot more detail and raises what I consider to be even more compelling points in the debate about our transportation future, which I plan to discuss in the near future.
My general take on the report:
Having discussed transportation funding with conservatives, I am not optimistic that busting the “roads pay form themselves” myth alone is going to change their minds. Moderate voters may be persuaded, but to date I have not seen the public relations effort required to get the message out there effectively. WISPIRG and other groups supporting alternative transportation are not using language that will be persuasive to our newly elected state officials. The instant you mention the word “greenhouse” to a Republican you have lost the argument with them. I am hopeful that groups like WISPIRG can craft a message centered around jobs, local control, efficient government, and giving people who want it the freedom to walk, bike, and use transit.
