One more strange twist on transportation

Latest word is that the issue of transportation is taking a strange twist in your state Capitol.

If you read the post immediately below, you know that Senate Republicans plan to push through S.B. 200, the bill to strip the state Department of Transportation of much of its power.

The emotional spur, so we’re told, is a contentious e-mail from a member of the DOT board. We haven’t seen a copy of it — yet.

Passage of S.B. 200 is intended to clear the way for a House-Senate sales tax deal, and perhaps cause the governor to help press negotiations home.

But Senate Democrats object to S.B. 200, which would give the governor unprecedented power of transportation policy and planning, and the Legislature control over spending long left to the DOT board.

And in a caucus meeting, Democrats have begun debating whether — if Republicans press on S.B. 200 — then they may vote to kill a sales tax deal. If that deal happens. They’ve been among the strongest advocates for increased funding for transportation, especially in metro Atlanta.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle has just returned to the well after a long absence. We heard that he’d been entertaining Democratic views on the issue.