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
2:25 pm
For a lighter moment regarding the chicken controversy: http://teamcoco.com/video/highlight-07/26/12
Ayn Rant
August 1st, 2012
2:26 pm
Actually, the “lost” refers to the voters frame of mind when they rejected the “splost”! Here was an opportunity to create thousands of jobs, invigorate the flagging state economy, and gain some infrastructure improvements, all for a piddling 1% increase in the sales tax, which no one will notice.
Our elected politicians are too cowardly to take any actions to improve the economy and the infrastructure, so we are indeed “lost”.
Centrist
August 1st, 2012
2:26 pm
Oblamer’s ineptocracy posted “All the tax cuts will be extended, regardless of who wins.”
Of course – but has to be by a lame duck Congress after the election. The only things to be settled before the election are postponements until after. They already did that with a continuing resolution for spending. The talk of the old “Gang of 6″ trying to spark a tax, spending, credit limit grand bargain is a waste of breath until 2013 – but it keeps those geezers away from us for a while.
Don
August 1st, 2012
2:27 pm
All you have to do is:
“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.”
That’s a good, rational approach. It’s also the funniest thing I’ve heard all day!
What MIGHT happen is the legislature will create a oversight group filled with political hacks from around the state that will oversee possible coordination between MARTA, CCT and GCT. They will get caught eating expensive meals and will say things like “Breeze is good.”
O House Dawg
August 1st, 2012
2:28 pm
Should could use a Tom Murphy now.
md
August 1st, 2012
2:30 pm
“First of all, he’s right. Normally, you don’t raise taxes in a recession, which is why we haven’t and why we’ve instead cut taxes. So I guess what I’d say to Scott is – his economics are right. You don’t raise taxes in a recession. We haven’t raised taxes in a recession.”
Evidently, it is ok to raise them when the economy is barely moving, just not in a recession.
Not too sure how that is supposed to work, but it seems to make sense to someone……
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
2:30 pm
I picked up a grilled chicken salad at Chik-Fil-A. I’ve already had my annual peach milkshake
Nothing quite as tasty as celebrating bigotry.
Ive got a feeling this is one of those made up scandals like the ” War on Christmas ”
The Cathys are laughing all the way to the bank.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
2:30 pm
Anyone seen JamVet? I wonder if he’s protesting in front of Chicfila?
Road Scholar
August 1st, 2012
2:32 pm
Kyle : with a gas tax, how do the owners/operators of hybrid and electric cars pay their fair share? Last time I checked, they took up the same space and damaged the pavement as gas cars!
Under Deal’s plan B , how do you like all final decisions on transportation being mad by the gov, someone with no professional transportation experience?
Was the vote against Tsplost a vote against consumption taxes, as proposed by some to replace the income tax based on earnings?
There are some parallels here.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
2:36 pm
“For a lighter moment regarding the chicken controversy”
The only controversy is how the left is trying to silence free speech. The majority of the country agrees with Cathy.
curious
August 1st, 2012
2:37 pm
Road Scholar
August 1st, 2012
2:32 pm
Kyle : with a gas tax, how do the owners/operators of hybrid and electric cars pay their fair share?
Just like Romney paying his fair share of income tax. Take advantage of the system and let the others pay.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 1st, 2012
2:38 pm
More silliness…. Everyone will get a tax cut under Obama plan for the first $250k. Only those making having income above that $250k will pay the rates prior to the Bush Tax Cuts for amounts above $250k. And sensible analysis shows that the return to prior rates will not have adverse consequences for that small group (2 million people) and will raise revenues.
But tell us about the GOP plan to raise taxes on 24 million middle and lower class Americans. And the Romney tax plan to raise taxes on families with income below $200k (95% of Americans) by $2,000 on average. Please do tie it into your prior comments about “making sense to someone”.
Joe Mama
August 1st, 2012
2:39 pm
Big D — “Joe, I guess you forgot today is the day your left leaning buddies called for a boycott of Chick-fil-A”
I didn’t forget. And you’re not obliged to take part if you don’t care to, are you? So once again, how, exactly, was your opinion at stake?
“because their CEO stated exactly the same thing as Barack Obama did prior to his recent desperate attempt at getting a couple of votes.”
I wouldn’t say ‘desperate’ at all.
http://www.electoral-vote.com
“Today has been a thumb in the loons eyes. LOL.”
Not in the least. Despite what many on your side might say and believe, I’ve wished quite a few people pleasant meals at CFA recently. I personally don’t care whether the boycott has any lasting effect, and my aim in boycotting CFA has nothing whatsoever to do with harming their business. I simply don’t care to patronize a business that chooses to fund groups that work against my or my friends’ civil rights.
If you choose to go there, then I hope you enjoy your meal. If my wife and I choose not to go there, then I hope you can accept our choice as we accept yours.
md
August 1st, 2012
2:39 pm
“Nothing quite as tasty as celebrating bigotry. ”
I’m a bit confused as to how that works. Chick-fil-a says the exact same thing as the President of the US of A and one is bigotry and one is not, can you explain how that works??
For reference:
“What I believe is that marriage is between a man and a woman … What I believe, in my faith, is that a man and a woman, when they get married, are performing something before God, and it’s not simply the two persons who are meeting,”
Also bigotry by your definition??
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
2:39 pm
The only controversy is how the left is trying to silence free speech. The majority of the country agrees with Cathy.
Ummm wrong
http://www.pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/Two-Thirds-of-Democrats-Now-Support-Gay-Marriage.aspx
48 percent support gay marriage 44 percent do not.
The numbers go up of course when you get to the uneducated hillbilly republican voters.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
2:40 pm
“Everyone will get a tax cut under Obama plan for the first $250k.”
Flat out lie.
Bruno
August 1st, 2012
2:40 pm
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.
Just my opinion, of course, but all of the folks who went out of there way to go to Chick-fil-A today are just as silly as those who are boycotting. In the long run, chicken sales have absolutely nothing to do with the rightness of supporting gay marriage. If you really feel that passionately about the topic, put that same energy into something more meaningful.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
2:41 pm
“48 percent support gay marriage 44 percent do not.”
Then explain why EVERY SINGLE state has voted gay marriage down where it was on the ballot.
“The numbers go up of course when you get to the uneducated hillbilly republican voters.”
California, Oregon etc are not Republican states.
Try again.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 1st, 2012
2:42 pm
Well come on Logic. While this may be your “first foray”, I doubt it…. got real evidence to support your assertion of a lie?
Joe Mama
August 1st, 2012
2:42 pm
md — “I’m a bit confused as to how that works. Chick-fil-a says the exact same thing as the President of the US of A and one is bigotry and one is not, can you explain how that works??”
Obama: ‘I think same-sex couples should be able to get married’
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/09/11621156-obama-i-think-same-sex-couples-should-be-able-to-get-married?lite
Steve-USA
August 1st, 2012
2:43 pm
Joe Mama- “If you choose to go there, then I hope you enjoy your meal. If my wife and I choose not to go there, then I hope you can accept our choice as we accept yours.”
I hope Joe will not take it as an insult that I agree with him but when this issue came up some of said we would make a personal choice to go elsewhere. No one said we would attempt to stop others from going to chic-fil-a.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
2:43 pm
“But tell us about the GOP plan to raise taxes on 24 million middle and lower class Americans. And the Romney tax plan to raise taxes on families with income below $200k (95% of Americans) by $2,000 on average.”
Another lie by KUTGF.
@@
August 1st, 2012
2:44 pm
Love this from George Will.
The GOP’s defeat in 1912 — like that in 1964 under Barry Goldwater, whose spirit infuses the tea party — was profoundly constructive. By rejecting TR, it preserved the Constitution from capricious majorities. When Cruz comes to the Senate, he and like-minded Republicans — Utah’s Mike Lee, Kentucky’s Rand Paul, South Carolina’s Jim DeMint, Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson, Pennsylvania’s Pat Toomey, Florida’s Marco Rubio, and, if they win, Indiana’s Richard Mourdock, Arizona’s Jeff Flake and perhaps some others — can honor two exemplary senatorial predecessors by forming the small but distinguished Root-Lodge Caucus
I’d call it the UpRoot the Lodgers Caucus.
http://www.humanevents.com/2012/08/01/george-will-in-the-company-of-madison/
Nothing quite as tasty as celebrating
bigotryfree speech.Fixed it for ‘ya, Cheesy.
Joe Mama
August 1st, 2012
2:45 pm
Steve — “I hope Joe will not take it as an insult that I agree with him but when this issue came up some of said we would make a personal choice to go elsewhere. No one said we would attempt to stop others from going to chic-fil-a.”
I don’t take it as an insult at all. My only complaint is aimed at people who are dissing others for their personal choice in the matter, whether that choice is to patronize CFA or to avoid it entirely.
Bruno
August 1st, 2012
2:45 pm
I found an old Bookman column from 7 years ago and found that you posted on it. What this means is that you’ve spent 7+ years blogging day in and day out on the AJC blogs.
Also, special note to “Logic” and to “Sick of Progs”–In case you guys haven’t noticed, we’re trying to get Kyle to keep the blog open in the evening. Every time one of you guys goes off on one of your ridiculous rants against AmVet or anyone else, you set our efforts back another few weeks. Please remember that you are part of a community here. Stop messing things up for the rest of us.
P.S. Choosing an offensive blog name isn’t helping either.
getalife
August 1st, 2012
2:45 pm
I would go to Zaxby’s because chick fila tastes like bigotry .
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
2:46 pm
“What I believe is that marriage is between a man and a woman … What I believe, in my faith, is that a man and a woman, when they get married, are performing something before God, and it’s not simply the two persons who are meeting,”
Also bigotry by your definition??
Yes it is. I was vvery disappointed in Obama over this.
Thank god he had an Etch a Sketch moment on that one.
Discriminating against someone because of their sexual orientation is no different than discriminating against them because of race or gender.
It will take awhile but eventually you knuckle draggers will be brought around on this issue.
Or maybe you will keep listening to Bill Orielly and believe same sex marriage will lead to people marrying goats or some other non sense.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 1st, 2012
2:47 pm
Logic, you can keep claiming the truth is a lie but you ain’t backing it with nothing but bluster. It’s a childish assertion without evidence.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
2:47 pm
“While this may be your “first foray”, I doubt it…. got real evidence to support your assertion of a lie?”
If there was evidence to back up your claim you’d have already posted it. Instead, you divert attention away from your lies by asking questions and making asinine comments.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
2:48 pm
Nothing quite as tasty as celebrating bigotry free speech.
Fixed it for ‘ya, Cheesy.
LOL. Lamest comeback ever.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
2:48 pm
Bruno
I wasn’t around when Kyle decided to close up shop for the evenings. Trying to pin this on me will get you nowhere.
Bruno
August 1st, 2012
2:49 pm
Hey Joe Mama–Glad to see you hanging out at Kyles. I hope you make it a point to stop by even after Jay returns. I kinda miss some of our knock-down, drag-out fights!!
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
2:51 pm
“I would go to Zaxby’s because chick fila tastes like bigotry .”
No one cares.
Skip
August 1st, 2012
2:51 pm
Sex and chickens, this is what concerns you folks? Strange days indeed.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
2:52 pm
.Then explain why EVERY SINGLE state has voted gay marriage down where it was on the ballot.
Tough to say when the majority of people now support gay marriage.
I would suspect that it wont get voted down outside the South much longer.
Over 63 percent of people born after 1980 support same sex marriage.
Its just a matter of time before the old bigots die off and things will change.
Rodert Rudis
August 1st, 2012
2:52 pm
Too bad for Atlanta. And Decatur, and Rex, and Lithonia, and Jonesboro, and Mableton, and Tucker, and Marietta, and every other community in the environs of Atlanta that desperately needs an efficient, inexpensive, convenient transportation system, not cars. Traffic is Atlanta’s No. 1 problem. Neither the political class, nor the constituents, nor the local media seem to be even remotely aware of this. Yes, they all talk a good game, but when it comes time to play, they’re all on the bench moaning and groaning. I used to live in Atlanta. The trafffic drove me (and my business) away. How I ever managed to live in Atlanta for as long as I did seems like a miracle to me now.
getalife
August 1st, 2012
2:53 pm
Give it a rest logic.
Bruno
August 1st, 2012
2:54 pm
I wasn’t around when Kyle decided to close up shop for the evenings. Trying to pin this on me will get you nowhere.
He specifically extended the early hours the night you got banned.
I’m not here to get into any soap-opera battles with you or anyone, but you need to grow up or go hang out somewhere else. Capice??
Joe Mama
August 1st, 2012
2:55 pm
Bruno — “Hey Joe Mama–Glad to see you hanging out at Kyles. I hope you make it a point to stop by even after Jay returns. I kinda miss some of our knock-down, drag-out fights!!”
I’m always willing to lock horns, even with people with whom I disagree, so long as we can do it without being disagreeable.
I don’t often post here because my temperature often shoots up past the Publicly Polite range when I do.
That said, there’s a good argument for me to post here. One doesn’t sharpen one’s arguments and rhetoric by always posting them in the Amen Corner. Just as a sword needs to be properly forged and tempered in order to take the best edge, so too do one’s arguments need to be weathered and tested in hostile environments.
@@
August 1st, 2012
2:55 pm
Cheesy:
Thank god he had an Etch a Sketch moment on that one.
Don’t fool yourself. It was Biden’s inconvenient comment that shook up our etch-a-sketch president.
Other than his self-serving support, nothing has changed.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
2:56 pm
“you can keep claiming the truth is a lie but you ain’t backing it with nothing but bluster. It’s a childish assertion without evidence.
I keep noticing that you never back any of your claims up with links/facts yet you continue to divert away.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
2:56 pm
“Tough to say when the majority of people now support gay marriage.”
But then again, they don’t.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
2:57 pm
“Give it a rest logic.”
Make me.
BW
August 1st, 2012
2:57 pm
Kyle
Nicely done…now we wait
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 1st, 2012
2:58 pm
But then again, they don’t.
But then again, they do.
And the numbers are rising dramatically with each new generation.
Its over.
Kyle Wingfield
August 1st, 2012
2:58 pm
Road @ 2:32: Long-term, I think we’ll move away from the gas tax to something else. Tolls are the most obvious alternative. I think it will be a long time before people accept a system tracking vehicle miles traveled … even if the technology and data are already pretty much in use with cellphones and GPS devices.
getalife
August 1st, 2012
2:59 pm
The dems are adding gay marriage to their platform.
The gop are adding more tea party cons.
The gop will show you a real depression.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
2:59 pm
“He specifically extended the early hours the night you got banned.
I’m not here to get into any soap-opera battles with you or anyone, but you need to grow up or go hang out somewhere else. Capice??”
Like I stated before, he shut it down because other folks got into a fight. I was not one of those folks. He banned me because I called JamVet something other than what his blog handle was.
Kyle Wingfield
August 1st, 2012
3:00 pm
As for your other questions: I think it will be incumbent on Deal to prove he’s choosing projects in a transparent manner, or this lack of trust problem will visit his door as well.
And I don’t think there’s a parallel between this vote and the broader call for shifting to consumption taxes, because no tax was going away or being reduced in this case.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
3:00 pm
“And the numbers are rising dramatically with each new generation.
Its over.”
No, they’re not. It’s like libs stating that the Tea Party would fizzle out. Never happened and it’s alive and well.
Just because you say something is true doesn’t mean it’s true.
Like I stated before, every time it’s on the ballot, it’s struck down.
See: North Carolina.