IF School Buses and Ambulances cannot use it, is the Bridge Safe ?

Another day, another bridge story.

By now most of us seen the headline that the Highway 23 bridge over the Mississippi River was closed last week.

The Twin Cities may get the media attention, but that doesn’t mean that there are not problems throughout the state.

Brown County, where New Ulm is the county seat, authorized an independent bridge inspection of the CSAH 8 bridge over the Minnesota River. The firm that inspected the bridge found several significant deficiencies that it felt require action or close monitoring. Recommendations included posting the bridge as a 5-ton weight limit, scheduling it for replacement if a bridge is needed and monitoring its condition at six-month intervals.
The county elected to put a 5-ton limitation on the road … which means that school buses and ambulances cannot travel on it. However, farm equipment will still be able to cross the bridge regardless of weight, thanks to a legal exemption.
So Mr. Farmer your kids’ bus will be re-routed but be carefully crossing it because if you need an ambulance, it may be awhile for it to get there.

Previously, CornerHouseComments wrote about the Rock River Bridge which was rated fourth worst bridge in the state! Nobles County engineer Stephen Schnieder said “Right now, there is no bridge money.The last bonding bill was in 2006, and the next one is in 2008 for bridges. If they don’t provide us with any money or not enough, we may end up waiting until 2010 or later to replace these two bridges.”

Adjacent to Brown County is Blue Earth County which is replacing a bridge that many are questioning. VoxVerax wrote about the Dodd Ford Bridge (which spans the Blue Earth River on Highway 147, west of Amboy. Highway 147 is a dead-end road between Highway 169 and Highway 40 — 1.9 miles in length) that Blue Earth County will replace a bridge that carries only about 35 cars a day --- cost to the taxpayers $1.6 million. Residents think it is unwise including Jerry Friesen of Faribault who wrote in an Op-Ed “County officials, it seems, don’t want to listen the concerns of people affected by this. I would hope that the taxpayers of Blue Earth County would question the commissioners spending tax money that could be used for more pressing needs …”

One of the Republicans voting to override the Governor’s veto of the Transportation Funding bill was Dennis Frederickson of New Ulm. Frederickson is a State Senator and he knew the DFL had more than enough votes for the override, but he voted for the needed investment in our infrastructure. That’s the type of leadership the state needs … at all levels (hint Blue Earth County Commissioners.)

As the candidates discuss their issues for the state legislature, solving our bridge and transportation needs should be at the top of their agenda. It will be interesting to hear Republican hopeful Ruthie (Ruth) Hendrycks assessment of CSAH 8 bridge since Brown County is in Minnesota House District 21B. Candidate Hendrycks seems to be a one-issue candidate and unless she thinks that closing bridges will impede the movement of illegal immigrants, she needs to inform voters her views on solving the infrastructure investment challenge.

It’s all about leadership.
Governor Tim Pawlenty is past his deadline to announce a new nominee for Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Minnesota needs a coordinated effort to ensure that bridge safety is beyond question and that a statewide priority of projects is used to ensure that some counties don’t suffer while other counties waste.

Pawlenty Driving Minnesota in the wrong direction

When the political campaign season is in full swing, there will be a lot of shouting about :
Unfunded mandates,
Wasteful government spending,
Incompetence by government agencies,
And government bureaucratic intervention.

But there is no sense in waiting until Election Day as the culprit is not on November’s ballot.

Tim “Big Ideas” Pawlenty and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) are making headlines … and for all the wrong reasons.

Pawlenty has directed the Department of Public Safety to use a biometric system to determine if multiple licenses have been applied for by individuals whose facial characteristics appear similar and merit further investigation in his battle to confront illegal immigration. The Minnesota driver’s license database contains more than 11 million photos as part of individual license records.

They obviously have time on their hands, as DPS is investigating unauthorized use of the state driver’s license database by DPS employees in July and December. KARE-11 reported that a number of recognizable names were on the list of people who had been targeted … Sven Sundgaard’s name was mentioned … but I don’t know if that was serious reporting or jest … but it’s good to know that the scope includes people of Scandinavian descent.

OK, so since Pawlenty is the boss, the DPS somehow finds the resources to perform biometric analysis. What if, lo and behold, Sven Sundgaard has a Doppelganger ? DPS must send someone out to investigate. Talk about proving a false positive ! The investigator will have to go to Sven’s home and lo and behold, Sven can prove who he is … but if there is somebody that has factitiously used Sven’s image on their driver’s license, the investigator will never find him.

Is this a good use of the public’s resources ? Not according to other government officials who are concerned about the lack of resources required by Pawlenty’s executive orders.

And if state funding was tight already, Minnesota could lose $20 to $42 million in federal highway money because the DPS system of licensing commercial truck drivers violates federal regulations. Turns out that the commercial driver's license program failed to screen out drivers convicted of drunken driving and other criminal offenses. But DPS has been busy on the roads, as 3,354 impaired drivers were arrested in December alone. Each year, alcohol-related crashes account for around 200 deaths, thousands of injuries, and damages to property.

Why is Pawlenty creating more work for a Department that seems to be having plenty of challenges already ?
Judging by the photographs of the Republicans standing as Pawlenty made his announcement, it can only be for political reasons.
This is sad.
Pawlenty should be driving efforts for bi-partisan solutions … not driving wedge issues.
In 2006, the Governor proposed a number of ideas that representatives from the Sheriff's Association, the Police and Peace Officers Association, labor, business, immigrant groups, faith-based organizations, human rights advocates, and community organizations all testified against it.
What is different today ?

Dividing the state’s citizens through fear mongering, intimidation and racial profiling may excite a voting block, but based on the number of members of the US House Immigration Reform Caucus (including amongst others : J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), John Hostettler (R-IN — the chair in the 109th Congress of the House Immigration Subcommittee), Chris Chocola (R-IN), Anne Northup (R-KY), Melissa Hart (R-PA), Charles Taylor (R-NC), Richard Pombo (R-CA) and of course, former First District Congressman Gil Gutknecht) who all lost, this would be an unwise political course.


The hope here is that like so many of Pawlenty’s other “Big Ideas”, this one quickly dies before we waste too many resources.
DPS and other state agencies have more productive tasks that need to be done. (Hint ==> Get Federal $)
The first order of business when the new legislative session starts should be to review and terminate this wasteful government directive.
Please contact your representative … sadly, mine was photographed standing behind Pawlenty, so I won’t be able to voice my opinion until November 4th.

Minnesota Loses while Pawlenty Backs Bush’s Ineffective Sanctions

Today’s Star-Tribune reports that “A deal with Indian company Essar Global to build a $1.6 billion taconite mill on the Iron Range may be on the rocks, just three days after it was announced, because of the company's developing ties with Iran.”

Earlier, the Star-Tribune reported : BANGALORE, INDIA - Gov. Tim Pawlenty's trade trip took a welcome turn Thursday as the governor learned that Indian firm Essar Global has closed on its acquisition of Minnesota Steel Industries and will proceed with plans to build a $1.6 billion taconite-to-steel mill on the Iron Range.[SNIP] "We are talking to them about timetables and about their expectations about what they expect from the county, the Iron Range Resources Board, and the state," Pawlenty said of Essar, adding he is hopeful that construction can begin early next year.

Yet, just a day before Reuters described the Iran project: “The facility, estimated to cost $8-$10 billion and which would be the first foreign-invested downstream project in sanctions-hit Iran, will boost the OPEC member's stagnant refining sector that is struggling with petrol shortages.” [SNIP] “Essar, owned by the Mumbai-based Ruias family, will take a 60 percent equity stake in the project with Iran taking the rest, said the Tehran-based and India-based sources.
"The priority of the new refinery will be to meet domestic gasoline and diesel requirements, and we will export the surplus products," said an India-based source familiar with the deal. ”

TIME OUT !

Pawlenty should be personally embarrassed by this episode.

Why wasn’t Pawlenty briefed by the US State Department prior to his visit to India ?
Pawlenty was previously scheduled to dine privately with the company's controlling Ruia family prior to the announcement of the MSI deal. He should have known about the company's Iran plans as Reuters reported in January that an Essar official stated the company wanted to strengthen its relations with Iran and was looking to buy into Iranian exploration and production blocks to help meet electricity needs for its planned steel plant.

This should have been a RED FLAG.

As mentioned in my previous commentary Coalition of the Only there is a 1996 US law which mandated action against any foreign company that prop up Iranian Government by investing more than $40 million there.

DUH. 60% of $8 Billion is more than $40 million. This was going to be a problem regardless of Bush’s ineffective sanctions.

What Pawlenty and residents of the Iron Range are learning is that sanctions hurt America.
Does anyone think that Iran will not be able to get foreign investment ?
America tried and failed to get pipeline project terminated between Iran and India. It is possible that Krupp-Thyssen may not pursue a steel production project with Iran, but that just opens the door for Essar. Read my commentary cited above for Russia's and India's plans. America has had a variety of sanctions against Iran since the 1980’s and even supported Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war. And we don’t seem to be able to get compliance … even from ourselves as The New York Times reported in September : officials acknowledge that the United States has not carried out existing Security Council penalties on several companies linked to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs

It’s time to end these ineffective sanctions.

Candidate George Bush spoke how he would act as President I view free trade as an important ally in what Ronald Reagan called ''a forward strategy for freedom.'' The case for trade is not just monetary, but moral, not just a matter of commerce, but a matter of conviction. Economic freedom creates habits of liberty. And habits of liberty create expectations of democracy. There are no guarantees, but there are good examples, from Chile to Taiwan.

As Baron de Montesquieu wrote in his 1748 work, The Spirit of the Laws, “Peace is the natural effect of trade. Two nations who traffic with each other become reciprocally dependent; for if one has an interest in buying, the other has an interest in selling: and thus their union is founded on their mutual necessities.”

Democratic candidate for President, Senator Chris Dodd recently observed “ the United States' most potent weapon against totalitarianism is the influence of ordinary American citizens. They are some of the best ambassadors we have.

Simply stated -- Trade is a building block for peace.
Yet Bush’s sanctions strategy is depriving Minnesotans of being the Ambassadors of Peace that we could be. If only President Bush would remember the words of Candidate Bush Freedom is not easily contained. Once a measure of economic freedom is permitted, a measure of political freedom will follow.

Governor Pawlenty should work with Senator Coleman and the other Republican leaders to change this ineffective stategy.

Dams, Bridges and Schools … Don’t Blame Pawlenty … Blame the system.

Our hearts go out to the victims of the I-35 bridge collapse. Blame is easy to dish out … and too often the response is “not me”. And “me” may be right … it’s “our” fault. No, not for this one calamity but instead for accepting the system. A system that allows shortsighted management without a regard for our future. Look at the Federal Deficit, the increasing National Debt, “borrowing” from Social Security reserves to pay current expenditures, funding an Iraq occupation on the next generation’s tax bills, forcing our disabled veterans to go through hoops to get anything they can, and the list goes on.

Why? Because we don’t demand the right things from our elected officials. We elect people for a set term --- two years, four years, or six years. Their focus is then only on that term … not what is best for the future. Too often, they respond to the campaigns of special interests in hopes of getting re-elected. It's bad for the ego, if elected officials get rejected at the polls. (Note to self : we have to find a way to stroke the Ego of politicians.)

In Minnesota, the Metrodome was deemed “antiquated”, an eyesore and financially unfeasible for the tenants who have called it home since 1982. And on the horizon, the Minnesota Vikings lease will expire in 2011. So after much lobbying by the “special interests”, the Governor and State Legislature addressed the issue. First a new University of Minnesota Gopher football stadium, that is budgeted at $289 million which the State Legislature agreed to pay about $136 million, was approved. The Twins will also have a new ballpark … the costs may be more than originally planned at $522 million
with Twins owner Carl Pohlad paying $130 million towards the stadium with the remaining three quarters paid through a a Hennepin County sales tax of .15 percent. The lone remaining tenant, the Minnesota Vikings, have been lobbying for a new stadium with a price tag of $996 million although owner Zygi Wilf has pledged about $250 million.

So, obviously lobbyist’s solution is to triplicate the “antiquated” Metrodome and the elected officials are agreeing.

There are other lobbyists, but maybe not as effective. Jennifer Byers of the MN Chamber of Commerce was recently in New Ulm presenting the issues for the next legislative session. Issues discussed included : Transportation, Education/workforce development, Sales tax reform, and Health care. In discussing Transportation, “No issue is more frustrating for the statewide business community. The last session once again produced zero new dollars for roads, bridges and transit. The continued gridlock presents an opportunity for someone to take the lead, and the Minnesota Chamber is committed to taking the next step by developing consensus for a moderate, balanced, and substantive package that can become law in 2008”

So the business community agrees that roads and bridges need to be addressed, but somehow the “gridlock” has prevented that from happening.

Some may attribute the “gridlock” to mean Governor V … as in Veto Pawlenty. But I disagree, if Pawlenty is the problem its not because he’s “Governor V”, instead it’s because he is “Governor No V” as in Governor No Vision.
Vetoes can be overridden. Governor Pawlenty may have vetoed a gas tax increase, but the veto fell 7 votes short of override … so the blame is shared with the House legislatures.
But it is No Vision Pawlenty that is the problem. The bill that he vetoed essentially allowed a "lights on budget" meaning only enough money to continue projects that are already underway. Further, that means that half of what many, including the State, say is needed to keep up and make progress has been funded.

And regarding the I-35 bridge, when Lieutenant Governor and Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau was asked whether budget considerations had anything to do with decisions on bridge maintenance, she responded : "We put together a system in this state that addresses the needs that we have within the fiscal restraints we have as well."

So that’s the problem … its fiscal restraints and No Vision.

The Governors vision is only for this session and his term.
“Antiquated” stadiums must be replaced, but bridges that opened in 1967 and that processed virtually a car every two seconds, would work fine until 2015 or 2020 (at least FOUR years after the Vikings lease expires) and long after the next gubernatorial election in 2012.

But its not just roads and bridges that should be a concern.
In Blue Earth County, there has been need for reconstruction of the Rapidan Dam.
State Representative Tony Cornish in discussing money needed for the Rapidan Dam warned "If there's one thing they should know about this governor by now it's that he's not going to raise taxes …" [Point of Explaination : This discussion was in May 2005. On July 26,2007, federal inspectors from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission found what they suspect is a hole in the base of the Rapidan Dam resulting in a Blue Earth County campground being evacuated, a reservoir lowered and an observation deck closed.]

Now Pawlenty does not have the same vision as Governor Jesse Ventura. Ventura opposed a new stadium, remarking that the Metrodome is 60 years younger than the Minneapolis building where he attended high school: "When I see a new Roosevelt High School -- which is 77 years old -- then we'll talk about it.''
In my school district, the High School was in need of replacement. I recall talking with my neighbor about this when his daughter was starting kindergarten. I told him that even though we do not have any kids that we would vote for a school referendum. That referendum failed … so did the next one … and so did the next one … until finally, it passed and this winter, a new High School was opened … with his daughter in the first graduating class ! I supported those referendums because it was good public policy, but it can take a long time for these to pass.

So now we understand that stadiums take precedence over bridges, dams and schools.

And the solution is simple. We need elected officials with VISION. In business, when a asset is acquired, a useful life is determined and a responsible business will plan to replace that asset when its useful life is complete. That should be true with schools, dams and bridges. Financially, the State needs to TAX to incur a reserve during the asset’s useful life so that when it has to be replaced, there is not a financial drain. The same system should work for schools, dams and bridges. There won’t be “fiscal restraints” if we incur the tax bill before it becomes an emergency.

Competing with Vision is the current mindset that focuses only on this term. To change that, we need to bribe elected officials. What can the taxpayer’s use to bribe officials … not money - that would be illegal … but instead stroke their Ego with eternal recognition. From now on, for every new school, bridge or dam, name it after the Governor and the local members of the legislature. We’d do it when they were dead, but if it’s done now, they would probably get it done NOW and within cost budgets. President Bush talks about an “Ownership Society” … well, let’s make the elected officials “owners” of the infrastructure … if they own it, they will be more inclined to maintain it. The I-35 bridge is actually “Bridge No. 9340” … that looks more like a street address that no one would want to own. Put a name on it and they’ll take better care of it.

What have we got to lose ? Stroking their Ego just might do it. Think about it. That’s right we won’t be saying “Damn that Pawlenty”, will be saying “Com’n kids, let’s go to Cornish Park at the Pawlenty Dam.”

Pawlenty dreams but Minnesotans fear nightmares

Last week, Governor Tim Pawlenty was in the southern Minnesota town of Janesville to participate in “cornbreaking event to mark the beginning of construction on the state’s largest ethanol plant. The plant, being built by US BioEnergy is a half-mile east of the town, will turn area corn into 100 million gallons of ethanol annually, as well as producing 320,000 tons of distillers grains. It will employ 40 people.

Somehow as I read The Free Press story, my mind wandered to the book Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella which many of you may know due to the Kevin Costner's film, Field of Dreams.
The tagline "If you build it, he will come" haunts the main character, Ray Kinsella -- an Iowa farmer who visualizes a ball field in the middle of his field of corn. Digging up his corn to build a ballpark will inspire the return of baseball legend Shoeless Joe Jackson, a man whose reputation was forever tarnished by the scandalous 1919 World Series.
A review of the book relates that baseball is a metaphor, a way to talk about things like innocence, belief and, perhaps above all, America. Shoeless Joe is a parable about one of the most fundamental of American ideals, beginning anew. Ray Kinsella, by plowing up a large section of his farmland, is both building and rebuilding, creating what had never been there and re-creating what had come before. The land was once a place where the sins of the old could be expunged and a new vision realized, and this kind of renewal is what Kinsella's quixotic creation brings about.

So now we come to Minnesota’s Governor … a natural-born cheerleader for business. Optimism is his mantra … not realism. Naturally, every Governor would be happy with a new business that will create jobs … and jobs that cannot be ever outsourced overseas. The news that there may be an oversupply in ethanol production this year was quickly dismissed. The Associated Press reported “Lehman Brothers analysts estimated the surplus at about 1 million gallons per day starting in the second half of 2007. The firm's report attributed part of that to the ethanol plant construction boom, but said transportation bottlenecks are a bigger problem."
Now the Governor may be able to claim that Minnesota will be a top producer … but what about the transporation issues?
"If you build it, they will come."
As Leigh Pomeroy reported on Minnesota Monitor “county and township roads aren't built to handle the heavy truck traffic going to and from ethanol and biodiesel plants."
Once again, we are back to the Governor’s failure to invest in roads. So those of us in southern Minnesota who have complained of Highway 14 for decades, and now finally have a least a good stretch of road in the Janesville area, will see that road deteriorate faster as well as the county roads that feed into Hwy14.

But the Governor loves ethanol and all its federal grants that are available and tax subsidies.
Did you know that Minnesota leads the country in USDA grants received ? The Free Press reported : “ The state has received $18 million in Rural Development Renewable Energy Grants since the program started in 2003. A total of $4 million was issued to Minnesota farmers and small businesses last year alone. "
Pawlenty’s JOBZ program had previously announced that US BioEnergy would recieve a $4.5 million loan and up to $1.2 million in property-tax rebates from Waseca County.
In the fiscal year ending June 30,2006, Minnesota sent $18.1 million to 13 of the state's 16 ethanol plants link plus federal tax credits and local inducements.
When the Governor was challenged on MPR concerning the need to continue tax subsidies for ethanol production, Pawlenty responded that we had to adhere to our commitments. What about the commitments that were made for LGA, gutting the state’s health insurance program, or cutting education funding that have happened during his tenure ? Are those programs subject to adjustment since they are expenditures, but we can never go back on our word to subsidize a start-up industry that is now profitable !

And back to Pawlenty’s personal “Field of Dreams”, there is a scene in the movie, where Ray Kinsella and his father discuss Heaven on Earth :
John Kinsella: Is this heaven?
Ray Kinsella: It's Iowa.
John Kinsella: Iowa? I could have sworn this was heaven.
[John starts to walk away]
Ray Kinsella: Is there a heaven?
John Kinsella: Oh yeah. It's the place where dreams come true.
[Ray looks around, seeing his wife playing with their daughter on the porch]
Ray Kinsella: Maybe this is heaven.

Except when Pawlenty is campaigning for John McCain in Iowa, I bet he thinks Heaven is Minnesota --where subsidies are in the present (which make dreams come true) but consequences are in the future. Taxpayers and motorists will have nightmares.

It’s great to create “a new vision” of a revitalized rural Minnesota, but let’s not focus only on the opportunities without realizing that there are ongoing expenditures that need to be provided.

Remember fellow taxpayer, every dollar that is given as a tax subsidy is a revenue dollar that will have to be paid by us.

Which job “suits” Pawlenty best ?

Before I answer the question, “Which job “suits” Pawlenty best ?”, a quick trivia question.

In the classic television show, The Brady Bunch, there was an episode entitled "Adios, Johnny Bravo". After a musical audition during which he is picked to become a rock star, Greg gets a big head and is ready to skip college.
Question : Why did the producers pick Greg to be Johnny Bravo ?
Answer : He was only chosen because he "fit the suit."

Hence it is with so many politicians, they are selected because they fit the “suit” (or image) that can easily be sold to the voting public. Look at George W. Bush … failed in a run for Congress in 1978, used family connections to achieve some personal business success (-- err, make that personal financial success as these businesses were not successful) then a stint as Governor of Texas. Resume and qualifications were not his strong suit, but his image was presented as a Compassionate Conservative who promised straight talk and high moral standards, opposed nation building and advocated tax cuts. Bush fit the suit of what could be sold to the social and religious conservative voters who in the end only got tax cuts (deficits don’t matter). In virtually one year, the Iowa caucus will be held and voters will notice how the candidates are morphing into a “suit” that can be sold to their perceived base.

Now we come to Tim Pawlenty … a man who wears many suits. He has a radio program that is broadcast throughout the state via WCCO. He is currently Vice Chair of the National Governors Association (NGA) and Chair of the NGA Center for Best Practices and next fall, he assumes chairmanship of the NGA. Monday, John McCain’s presidential exploratory committee announced that Pawlenty will serve as National Co-Chair of Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign should he decide to run. Oh, and he’s also our current Governor and according to his campaign manager, he may run for a third term if he is not selected to run for Vice President.

Remember when Governor Ventura was criticized for various personal appearances and private business endeavors. In fact, then Representative Carol Molnau (current Lt. Governor) requested a ruling by the Office of the Legislative Auditor whether it was appropriate for the state’s taxpayers to be obligated to pay for security costs for state troopers and support staff expenses during book tours.

What I find concerning is that when Pawlenty was asked during the 2002 campaign whether he would pursue other endeavors, he stated that he would only be the Governor. Now, as McCain’s National Co-Chair, will he be actively sounding out donors and rounding up supporters at dinners in key primary states during the all-important financial primary? How many trips to Iowa ? How many TV appearances ?

Pawlenty was elected for a reason – to be Minnesota’s Governor. Tim Penny and Kevin Featherly penned a great Op-Ed in The Pioneer Press assessing Pawlenty’s talents and encouraging him to take some BOLD steps at leadership.

Listening to Pawlenty’s State of the State Address, he opted to address the easy issues that everyone can agree upon – better government, energy, education and health care. These issues were actively debated issues in the past election, and based on the legislative race results he has a pretty easy idea how the legislators feel. Hence, we heard revamping of his prior proposals using the term “compromise” and updating the version -- i.e. “Achieve II”. But there were other issues that the Governor did not mention – transportation and illegal immigration. These issues may not “suit” the image that he wants to project. He is adamant that he will veto a gas tax to address the state’s transporation needs. He knows that the illegal immigration issue is an exploitive wedge issue but the solution is politically very dicey. One comment that I can agree with him on – the need to stop paying for good intentions. To me that means the legislature should look at the subsidies that are on the books. He may be right that Minnesota is not overtaxed, but that does not mean that there is not inequity in the tax system. Subsidies transfers the tax burdens to ordinary citizens.

Although he addressed the issues, the solutions he offered were minmalistic yet somehow seemed to be adequately “suited” to resolve problems. He advocated additional opportunities to allow private business to obtain state spending (i.e. establish $4,000 scholarships for at risk students that may be used for private pre-schools.) In some cases he promotes rewarding the performers instead of elevating the underperformers (i.e. 2% increased additional funding if standards are achieved without consideration that some districts that based on Pawlenty’s own comments can be categorized as affluently educated communities which may easily achieve the targets.)

I believe that we can all agree with Pawlenty when he said "The state of our state is great, but we can make Minnesota even better," but to do that we need a BOLD Governor 100% committed to being the Governor.