The L-O-S-T in T-SPLOST refers to public trust
There’s a saying for politicians and for those of us who cover them: The voters are always right. While we’re bound to be subjected to a round or two of recriminations about who’s to blame for the absolute debacle that was the metro Atlanta T-SPLOST campaign, pay attention to those who show signs of understanding and accepting that saying. They’re the ones who will be most likely to find the way forward from here.
For my part, here’s what I think the voters were saying in their 63-37 defeat of the $7.2 billion tax.
The political class has lost our trust.
If that sounds obvious, consider that it’s also a puzzling situation, given that many of the same people who voted overwhelmingly against the T-SPLOST have been voting in large numbers to elect the same Republican politicians who gave us the T-SPLOST. I think there’s a pretty clear explanation: This is the consequence of having a one-party state.
Georgia has been a one-party state for pretty much 140 years now. The first 130 years, it was a one-party state ruled by Democrats. The past 10 years, it’s been a one-party state ruled by Republicans and Democrats-turned-Republicans. (Note: I am referring here only to the party holding the levers at the state level, not municipal or federal offices.) For most of those 140 years, there has been very little credible, effective opposition from the minority party. I’m sure it was worse for the Republicans at times between Reconstruction and Sonny Perdue’s watershed win in 2002, but the situation is pretty bleak right now for Georgia Democrats. And that means Georgia Republicans feel very little electoral heat, which leads them to act in a very insular way.
That’s played out no more clearly than in their attitude toward ethics: If legislators are wise, they’ll recognize that the lack of public trust on display in the T-SPLOST vote means they can’t very well ignore the support of 87 percent of GOP voters for a lengthening of the proverbial arm separating lobbyists from legislators. If I heard one voter say he thought T-SPLOST was all about rewarding political contributors and allies, I heard it from dozens of voters. Legislators cannot go too far in trying to improve the negative public perception around our lawmaking process.
Geographically, at least as it relates to the T-SPLOST, you can locate the center of that lack of trust along the Ga. 400 corridor. Perdue arguably lost Tuesday’s tax vote two years ago when he reneged on the longstanding promise to end the toll when the original bonds were paid off. An opinion poll conducted for the AJC, published last weekend, showed the 400 toll extension was a factor for 55 percent of voters — and that 64 percent of voters doubted the T-SPLOST would end when promised and be limited to the projects on the list.
Nathan Deal obviously thought he could show some good faith by announcing recently that the tolls would come down by the end of next year, fulfilling one of his campaign promises. But the AJC’s opinion poll showed the maneuver actually made voters less likely to vote for the T-SPLOST by a net 6 percentage points. The reason, in my view, is that it sends a signal that state government decides when and how to make these decisions on purely political considerations. Bad political considerations, it now appears.
There are a couple of ways for elected officials to show they understand this message. First and foremost, they must demonstrate clearly that all available transportation money is being spent as wisely and efficiently as possible.
That means showing transportation spending really is a priority for the state. All revenues from the motor fuel tax should be directed to transportation; currently, part of it goes to the general fund. When the inflation-driven formula for the motor fuel tax dictates that the rate should rise to keep spending level in real terms, state government should let it rise. Where money can be cut from lesser priorities and redirected to transportation infrastructure, it should be cut and redirected.
As for efficiency, the state needs to be much more transparent about which projects are priorities based on pure cost-benefit analysis, and begin spending the money we do have on the highest-rated projects. If that means re-examining the wisdom of balancing spending based on congressional districts — they might be equal in population, but they aren’t necessarily equal in terms of transportation needs — so be it.
The money I’ve talked about so far would probably be skewed toward roads rather than mass transit, if only because a constitutional amendment allowing gas-tax revenues to fund transit looks like a sure loser. Transit should be addressed in a two-step manner: First, create a truly regional (if not state-run) governance structure for mass transit in metro Atlanta that incorporates MARTA and the other transit agencies. Second, allow voters beyond Fulton and DeKalb to vote in a referendum to participate in the system, with specific descriptions of the infrastructure and services that would come with it. If they want to join, let them join the same way Fulton and DeKalb joined MARTA.
If some of that sounds like baby steps, well, that’s because they are. One of these days, the people who run our government — at the local, state and federal levels — are going to realize a little modesty on their part would go a long way toward re-establishing the public trust they’ve clearly lost.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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1,018 comments Add your comment
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 1st, 2012
1:10 pm
Come on libs, tell us all again how Chicfila will go under because of Cathy’s support of traditional marriage
Well its a shame Kyle does not ban for claims never made.
How silly. And of course, the claimed single store test is “proof”. 
See ya Friday night at 8… 
gm
August 1st, 2012
1:12 pm
USMC
The typical right wing hypocrite idiot: Please return your gov VA, Medicare, SSI, Fema when needed, all the gov money that was sent to build roads, bridges, how about corportate welfare, you know the money Mitt used from the gov?
The right wing nut jobs only hate gov when its nothing in it for them, when a natural disaster happens do any one see business handing out checks to help people?
emo
August 1st, 2012
1:13 pm
‘ the majority of Republicans are for LIMITED government… LIMITED taxes.’
Er, that is, unless they’re in power, in which case it becomes “Unlimited government and unlimited deficits”.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 1st, 2012
1:13 pm
I forgot remind someone: Free speech does not mean “Free from thought” nor does it mean “Free from consequences”….. as a recent return from being banned should have taught you.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 1st, 2012
1:13 pm
The long, long line at the local Chick-A-filA brought a beaming smile to my beautiful face. It was worth the wait for the sandwich.
There are many government cronies and do nothings posting their job resumes this morning, they were really hoping to squander all that money.
And that brings an even bigger smile….
Now let’s choke the rest of our government to death.
md
August 1st, 2012
1:13 pm
“check the polls. the socialist is extending his lead.”
He means check the “poll”…….if one were to check more than that one particular poll one would see more than one result…….but that defeats the purpose of throwing out the results of that one poll.
m. noe
August 1st, 2012
1:14 pm
it’s the sales tax, stupid!
Stephenson Billings
August 1st, 2012
1:14 pm
I’m still confused as to whether it is a 1 percent tax or a 1 cent tax. Seen it described both ways even on the official web page. There’s a big difference between the two. Not that it matters now. Looks like we’re back to using the decreasing borrowed federal money for whatever few projects will be let in the future…unless the economy turns around quick and the tax revenues increase.
Dirty Dawg
August 1st, 2012
1:15 pm
That pretty much cinches it…the Tea Party mindset has all but completed its mission of turning this State into the most cynical, the most selfish and most prejudiced in the Union…other than all the others. Was this a great country, or what?
JF McNamara
August 1st, 2012
1:16 pm
The Republicans put a lot of money behind propaganda to get the messages of “No new taxes” and “Don’t trust government” out to voters. We’re seeing the results of that campaign in not only T-Splost but in the federal and state budgeting process.
Republicans need to switch the message to responsible government and drop the all government and taxes are bad rhetoric. We wouldn’t have needed a vote and the legislature could have done their job if they weren’t so scared of raising taxes to pay for what we need.
The voters are reacting how they wanted, but its turning out to be a thorn in their side.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
1:17 pm
“Well its a shame Kyle does not ban for claims never made. How silly. And of course, the claimed single store test is “proof”.”
Single store?
Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day: Over Half a Million to Show Up at Restaurants Today
Christians nationwide are vowing to “eat mor chikin” today in observation of Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, an event that was organized to show support for the popular restaurant chain’s stand for Biblical marriage.
According to the Support Chick-fil-A Facebook page, over 610, 000 people have pledged to patronize the eatery today with family and friends.
Joe Mama
August 1st, 2012
1:17 pm
USMC — “NO Republicans are “ANTI-government/ANTI-tax…”
I Report — “Now let’s choke the rest of our government to death.”
The prosecution rests.
Ray
August 1st, 2012
1:18 pm
Kyle makes the interesting point that this election result indicates that Georgia voters are displeased with and distrusting of their political class. How else can you explain a Republican plan, the T-SPLOST, that was voted down overwhelmingly by Republican voters? But, I seriously doubt that we will see any big shake-up among the Republican leaders and legislators at the voting booth anytime soon. The same old political class, which anti-TSPLOST voters are supposedly so distrustful of, will not be voted out of office by the anti-TSPLOST voters. Can you say stalemate?
I also still see a lot of the same old, tired divisiveness between in-town Atlanta vs. suburban Atlanta/the rest of Georgia that has long plagued our region. In-town Atlantans are wary of suburban Atlanta and Georgia state politicians, and suburban Atlanta and Georgia state voters are very strongly against in-town Atlanta politicians. Some of this old divisiveness may be warranted in certain respects, but overall it is just weary and tiresome, and another stalemate that is unlikely to end any time soon.
Overall, how depressing for Atlanta and for Georgia. I think we are now officially about 4-5 years into a long downward slide for Atlanta and for Georgia. Atlanta’s stature compared to other major American cities has taken a hit the last few years, and now that trend is likely to continue. It’s too bad after Atlanta had things on such a good upswing following the 1996 Olympics. Sixteen years later we seem stalemated and stuck in reverse, with little hope for any change of direction.
John from Little Five Points
August 1st, 2012
1:19 pm
If the state of Georgia had placed the gasoline tax in a special fund and spent it only on transportation, we would not need the 1-cent transportation special-purpose local option sales tax.
Just saying..
August 1st, 2012
1:19 pm
So a Georgia government comprised entirely of Republicans may not produce the best governance?
Who knew?
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
August 1st, 2012
1:20 pm
BTW, went to Chicfila today and it was packed.
Well, I stayed the heck away from that place because the word was out that the Gays were going to hold a kiss-in there and I didn’t want to get slobbered on while I was trying to eat lunch. It’s bad enough they want to make me get Gay Married. Now you can’t even go to a fast food place without risking having some hairy dude plant his lips on you.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 1st, 2012
1:20 pm
Superspeedy “moving the goalposts” sales alert…. order now before he gets banned
Kyle Wingfield
August 1st, 2012
1:24 pm
Logic @ 1:14: You really need to review ALL the rules for my blog before you continue.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 1st, 2012
1:24 pm
Redneck, try sending your wife next time…. maybe she’ll run off with someone and leave you the entire trailer.
Or instead of asking for the Cop, look for the Construction Worker or the Indian. 
Jefferson
August 1st, 2012
1:24 pm
Parties are for kids, results are for adults. The GOP in GA has no results.
Jose
August 1st, 2012
1:24 pm
Stephenson Billings
August 1st, 2012
1:14 pm
I’m still confused as to whether it is a 1 percent tax or a 1 cent tax
it was a 1 cent tax that equates to approx a 15% tax hike
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 1st, 2012
1:26 pm
While GOP leaders like Sen. John McCain, Speaker John Boehner and Rep. Mike Rogers, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, abandoned her, her base never did. In fact, some Tea Party leaders rebelled against McCain and Boehner for speaking out against Bachmann.
salon.com
These voters are the ones we should fear.
JDW
August 1st, 2012
1:27 pm
In large part this debacle can be traced to the old saw…you reap what you sow.
The Republican party has been sowing mistrust in government since the Clinton era. They have poured untold billions into a marketing machine that includes the NRA, Crossroads, Americans for Tax Reform et al that have hammered home the message that “gubment is bad”. The ideological center of this new Republican Party lies in people like Grover Norquist, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin and Jim DeMint. These people have no interest in governing for the benefit of all, they want to “reduce government to a size that can be easily flushed down the drain” while protecting their income streams. So far they have managed to put in motion the wheels that have led us to the largest deficit in history coupled with the lowest tax collections.
Some states have resisted this approach (Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina pop to mind) and still have economies and governments that function. Others like Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi have bought in hook line and sinker and are paying the price in terms of economic growth and quality of life.
This vote is those chickens coming home to roost. The Republicans in Georgia have successfully persuaded the voting public and now find themselves in the impossible position of having to get something done in the environment they have created and surprise surprise cannot. Our infrastructure crumbles but solutions can’t be found, they couldn’t solve the water issue, they sit with their thumbs up their collective rear while health care exchanges will be federally mandated, job creation in the area is none existent, we lead the nation in bankruptcies and bank failures. In fact other than “Go Fish” I can’t think of a single problem that has been solved nor growth initiative taken by this state since Sonny Purdue was elected…not one in 10 years.
Until the voting public realizes they have been sold a bill of goods I am afraid our state will continue to sink economically, educationally and in quality of living. Hopefully it won’t take another 100 years to turn the tide.
middle of the road
August 1st, 2012
1:27 pm
“considering how few of these voters are affected in any real way by this 50 cent toll.”
STands for decibels – you just don’t get it, do you. I never use 400 and pay the toll, but it is the idea that government could make a promise to get something passed (which they did in the case of 400) then go back on that promise when it suits them. It is the PRINCIPLE of the matter (not that I would expect you to know about that).
How would you like it if a politician made it a main plank in his election to get more funding for MARTA, then once he was elected, turn around and take money away from MARTA? Would you vote for him again?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
1:28 pm
“You really need to review ALL the rules for my blog before you continue.”
Done.
Jose
August 1st, 2012
1:28 pm
The GA-Republicans and the GA-Democrats that wanted to ram through the T-SPLOST out dumbed themselves
they thought by having the vote during the PRIMARY ELECTIONS they could push it through……….. when if they were smart they would have done it during the GENERAL ELECTION when all the OBAMA dummies would have shown up and voted for it
From the Center
August 1st, 2012
1:28 pm
gm
August 1st, 2012
1:12 pm
corporation donate to disaster relief all the time
md
August 1st, 2012
1:29 pm
“the most selfish”
Mind providing your definition of “selfish” so we can all get a basis point…..thanks.
Dave
August 1st, 2012
1:30 pm
Hey Deal – Hey Gold Dome – You take a fee for every tire purchased to be used to recycle the old tires. It was a great idea until you robbed the fund and started using it for your slush fund! And Georgia’s congress is afraid to make Georgia use it as it is lawfully mandated. Deal, You’re a liar. Politicians under the Gold Dome, you’re a bunch of dead beat liars! LOL Laughing over Lunacy, YOU GET NO DAMN MORE UNTIL YOU SHOW YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOU GET NOW!
curious
August 1st, 2012
1:31 pm
New business strategy!
Come out against gay marriage and watch your business boom.
KMart will be making their announcement anytime now.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 1st, 2012
1:31 pm
JDW… you mean “Government is the problem” from St. Ronnie has, in great part, landed all of us in this absurd situation?
Stephenson Billings
August 1st, 2012
1:32 pm
If it was just a 1 penny tax, then why did it say 1% on the ballot?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
1:32 pm
“Well, I stayed the heck away from that place because the word was out that the Gays were going to hold a kiss-in there”
Then you should have checked the date on that one. Doesn’t happen until the 4th.
Numbers-R-US
August 1st, 2012
1:32 pm
“Republicans have gained power by being anti-government anti-tax…”
That’s what their base supports so that’s the rhetoric they get.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
1:33 pm
“from St. Ronnie”
Funny how libs always mock Reagan and at the same time tell us how Obama is like him. Weird.
Kyle Wingfield
August 1st, 2012
1:34 pm
Stephenson: It was an additional sales tax of 1 percent. In Atlanta, for example, the sales tax would have risen to 9 percent from the current 8 percent.
Brosephus™
August 1st, 2012
1:34 pm
dB @ 12:29: it’s kind of hard for a conservative movement that’s made its bones on being anti-government, expecting those same constituents to turn around and support something that is, for all intents and purposes, an expansion of state government.
jconservative @ 12:50: I agree with Kyle that the same people who gave us the T-SPLOST will be reelected to office.
Everyone who voted NO on T-SPLOST should vote against every incumbent member of the state legislature on their ballot.
Those two posts just about sum up my opinion on this entire waste of energy. This vote was nothing more than the proverbial chickens coming home to roost. You can’t preach that government is the problem for 30-40 years and then expect your same crowd to go along with something that’s basically government being the answer.
Ideology is good for rousing the bases, but it is disasterous when it comes to governing. When you lock yourself into an ideological position, that keeps you from solving problems when the answer runs counter to your ideology. I wish Georgia nothing but good luck in trying to unwind this debacle.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
1:34 pm
“Come out against gay marriage and watch your business boom.”
Obama, Hillary and Bill were/are against it.
Stephenson Billings
August 1st, 2012
1:35 pm
And I didn’t run the numbers or see anything about it, but I find it hard to believe a 1 penny tax equates to a 15% increase.
Jose
August 1st, 2012
1:35 pm
Stephenson Billings
August 1st, 2012
1:32 pm
If it was just a 1 penny tax, then why did it say 1% on the ballot?
there are groups trying to pursue legal matters to find out how it could have been done that way on the ballot……………. it was a sneaky move………… can only assume they thought 1% sounded better that 1 cent (15% tax hike)
Erwin's cat
August 1st, 2012
1:35 pm
Come out against gay marriage and watch your business boom
except Cathy didn’t do that
md
August 1st, 2012
1:35 pm
“they couldn’t solve the water issue”
10 years out of 140 and now they are responsible for the water problems??
Short of having Congress re-survey the boo boo up on the GA-TN line, there will be no solution to the water problem. Resources are finite………..Atlanta best start buying land between them and the ocean so they can build that giant desalination plant and build that giant pipeline, as there is no more water in the atl……….
JDW
August 1st, 2012
1:35 pm
@Johnny Reb…”A strong Republican Party clearly in control will make mistakes, but that is preferred to having compromise with those whom you share few beliefs and goals.”
Didn’t Germany, Russia and Japan all try that one party route once upon a time? Don’t China, North Korea and Cuba use that approach today?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
1:36 pm
“When you lock yourself into an ideological position, that keeps you from solving problems when the answer runs counter to your ideology.”
Obama came to mind when I read that sentence.
Gimme Gimme Gimme
August 1st, 2012
1:36 pm
I don’t agree that the public has only lost trust with the one party State. I think rational thinking voter’s no longer trust the Republican or Democratic parties nationwide.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 1st, 2012
1:36 pm
Comprehension requires understanding that “St. Ronnie” is not intended to mock Reagan but rather the glorification of him by the GOP and the invocation of his name as their “god.” But keep trying, one day you may get one of these right.
Jose
August 1st, 2012
1:37 pm
Stephenson Billings
August 1st, 2012
1:32 pm
If it was just a 1 penny tax, then why did it say 1% on the ballot?
of course it could have been that the idiots that designed t-splost wrote the ballot language thus proving we can’t trust them with our money
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
August 1st, 2012
1:37 pm
Kyle, well thought out and expressed. For once in my life, I would like someone in Government to treat the money they confiscate, like the money I earn, spend it wisely, and be accountable for the actions they take, rather than blame some outside person or event.
Numbers-R-US
August 1st, 2012
1:38 pm
0.08 to 0.09 -> Percent change = 100*(0.09-0.08)/0.08 = 12.5%
Newnandawg
August 1st, 2012
1:38 pm
Still having a hard time understanding how our “Conservative” U.S. Rep Westmoreland supported the T-SPLOST tax.
They’re all corrupt now.