If elections were press conferences…
At left, a pro-TSPLOST event headlined by Gov. Nathan Deal. At right, a protest by the Transportation Leadership Council
TSPLOST supporters overwhelmed opponents on Monday in a set of dueling rallies at the state Capitol on Monday. Granted, one side did have Gov. Nathan Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, and U.S. Reps. John Lewis and Hank Johnson — Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves and DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis, a dozen state lawmakers and the entire staff of the metro Chamber of Commerce.
In fact the only major political figure missing from the Capitol mix on the support side was House Speaker David Ralston. A spokesman said that a) Ralston had a previous engagement, and b) he’s been staying neutral on the TSPLOST question. Possibly it makes a difference that the 9th District congressional candidate that Ralston supports, Doug Collins of Gainesville, has declared himself in opposition.
The Transportation Leadership Coalition rally followed the Untie Atlanta event.
Though he won’t be traveling, Deal will be campaigning statewide for the transportation sales tax today. A satellite TV truck is parked outside the Capitol, to allow the governor to conduct interviews with local TV stations throughout the state.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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134 comments Add your comment
Right on
July 30th, 2012
2:06 pm
ok by me.
SSA
July 30th, 2012
2:07 pm
According to politifact.com:
“The transportation sales tax would cost the average consumer an estimated $112 a year.”
“The average Atlanta resident “spends an extra $924 each year in additional gasoline and wasted time.”
It seems to pay for itself and more….
Lower taxes you idgits!
July 30th, 2012
2:08 pm
T-SPLAT all over the capitol’s marble floor
James
July 30th, 2012
2:09 pm
For those of you that will be voting “No”… what is your solution to the traffic mess? I’ll agree that the planned projects are not ideal or the best solutions, but they are certainly better than doing nothing.
If you cannot provide a better alternative, why make things worse for the entire region by voting down the current “best” solution? Are you all a bunch of sadists?
Can we get a list of supporters...
July 30th, 2012
2:10 pm
…so we can vote them all out for supporting such poor legislation?
Ga Values VOTE NO FOR WASTE, GRAFT & CORRUPTION
July 30th, 2012
2:13 pm
Road Scholar
July 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
Wrong on 1st, right on VOTE NO ON WASTE, GRAFT & CORRUPTION…
Mild Mannered Moderate
July 30th, 2012
2:15 pm
@James – Well I had a cousin and I asked him and his suggestion was “Move.” But I don’t think that’s fair to both sides.
MY solution is that both sides should come together and have lunch and that we should have both of them make a list and take 1/2 the things from one list and 1/2 the things from the other list. Its only fair.
Both sides. Two dollars. Both sides.
ank
July 30th, 2012
2:17 pm
Sometimes i think my 3 yr old has more common sense than some of the bloggers around here.
I will say one thing: my own job security continues, with all the morbidly obese, 2 hr commuting, traffic-sitting folks who vote no on this one. Thank god for heart disease and concominant 2 hr traffic standstills!
SSA
July 30th, 2012
2:18 pm
But this is important as well: http://www.ajc.com/opinion/no-tax-is-racist-1486164.html. Its amusing that the Tea Party and NAACP agree at all, even if for completely different reasons.
Mild Mannered Moderate
July 30th, 2012
2:19 pm
@Ank – You’re welcome. After all, all the morbidly obese, 1 hour 59 minute commuting, traffic sitting folk who vote yes on this one will be voting for 1 hour 59 minute stand stills will be giving you job security two.
You’re playing both sides! WELL DONE!
Both sides. Two dollars. Both sides.
GenXYer
July 30th, 2012
2:26 pm
No Name and Auntie Christ–
The Pro Rally was in the North wing, the anti rally was in the south wing.
Vote YES
July 30th, 2012
2:26 pm
Vote YES!!
Simple
July 30th, 2012
2:27 pm
So all traffic back ups go away by simply voting to give someone else my hard earned money? Color me skeptical………
Simple
July 30th, 2012
2:28 pm
T SPLOST is going to be T bagged………
Mike
July 30th, 2012
2:30 pm
if you vote no don’t drive And keep following the other lemmings off the cliff. Thankfully, govt didn’t build everything I use; your comments are rather obamaesque don’t you think?
Here’s the point: metro Atl area govts have a history of waste, mismanagement, etc. Remember AJC story just a few weeks ago about beltway management taking their wives out to dinner on your tax dollars? You need to pay attention to your surroundings before you make other outrageoous claims.
Mild Mannered Moderate
July 30th, 2012
2:34 pm
I also heard TSPLOST will make flying cars like on the jetsons. Vote yes!
Oh yeah! Well *I* heard that you’re going to get to be on the next season of Lost if you vote yes (it will be a lottery.)
I heard that it includes free GPS tracking devices for everyone in Atlanta so you won’t ever get lost again.
And like mike said using no punctuation and poor grammar to say whatever it is he was trying to say that it is important that we trust what the ajc says because it doesnt get ad revenue from construction companies and the champber of commurce like other peopul advocating a yes vote and remember that you cant trust the metroatl governs but you can trust the rural atlanta georgia governments that also think this is cool so vote yes and if you dont dont drive because I spell gud.
Both sides want you to vote! Vote early! Vote often!
Both sides. Two dollars. Both sides.
Mike
July 30th, 2012
2:37 pm
Mild Mannered Moderate: I’ve got a period you can borrow (didn’t use it at end of this sentence)
Mild Mannered Moderate
July 30th, 2012
2:40 pm
Thanks mike. it is important to borrow things from yur neightbors because being neighburly is gud. Thankewe 4 using spell and gramarrcheck. I height it when people don’t use thuse. It is disrepectful and only radiculs on the fringz are rude.
Vote yes! Because thats what ewe were told 2 dew!
Both sides. Two Dollars. Both sides.
Mike
July 30th, 2012
2:44 pm
Mild Mannered Moderate: Are you always this silly about important public policy issues?
Hmmmmmm
July 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
Looks like two different places…. But, who would have thought that Jim Galloway is going to vote for Tsplost….
Mild Mannered Moderate
July 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
I don’t know what you mean by silly?
You mean taking one side that believes that observable reality is optional vs the other side that doesn’t and treating them the same?
You mean like taking Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin seriously?
You mean like electing…well…pretty much anyone who is elected here in Georgia?
You mean like electing someone because you like their hair, their voice, their ethnicity etc?
You mean like believing in a slick advertising campaign that doesn’t do anything but make the people who are pushing it rich?
Yeah, I know. I’m only silly when the majority goes with the flow, and then its not silly because the middle likes it. Both sides are the same.
Both sides. Two Dollars. Both sides.
jj
July 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
10 robo calls from TSPOST in less than 48 hours has more than convinced me to say NO
Mr Big
July 30th, 2012
2:54 pm
Mild Mannered Moderate, I think he meant your intentional misspelling of words and bad grammar just to be a smarty pants.
yatsidog
July 30th, 2012
2:55 pm
If it doesn’t have provisions for the Northern Arc to connect I75 and I85 without coming into downtown ATL/or I285 clogging up traffic, wasting gas and time, then it’s worthless. GA sent back unused funds and now they want us to pay. No way.
Mild Mannered Moderate
July 30th, 2012
2:56 pm
I am not smart. I’m just like everyone else. I just wanted to be normal and use no punctuation like Mike.
Two sides. Both dollars. Two sides.
Krie (proud to have voted NO)
July 30th, 2012
2:58 pm
@ Bob Decker 2:00 pm
“We should be doing the opposite, Georgia should lower taxes, eliminate state taxes all together and make it all up by opening 20 large top of the line full blown casino’s, horse racing facilities, and poker establishments,”
My god man, are you asking for a lawsuit….you forgot the oldest profession….(Pimping ant Easy)!
Vote NO
Mr Big
July 30th, 2012
2:59 pm
Is it both sides or two sides? Both dollars or two dollars? I can’t figure out your riddle.
Living In Dekalb
July 30th, 2012
3:07 pm
Where were the residents of Clayton, Cobb & Gwinnett when residents in Atlanta & Dekalb voted for MARTA and had a 1 cent sales tax added which made Fulton Cty 8 percent, and Dekalb 7 percent, the residents of Clayton, Cobb & Gwinnett did not want the PEOPLE???????????? Who ride MARTA in their neighborhoods, so now fast forward and the residents of Fulton & Dekalb has to pay an extra 1 percent, 9 percent sales tax for Fulton and 8 percent Sales tax for Dekalb. I say is this FAIR? NO!!!!and I say NO!!!!!!!!!to TSPlost.
Tired of BS
July 30th, 2012
3:07 pm
Truth… a vote for TSLOST is just damned stupid. Who in their right mind votes for something that is not set in stone. Wish we had an electorate educated enough to know that all of this is just a plan at this point. The Feds do not have the money to give a grant to the states any longer. The BS spewing from those who support is shameful.
Vote No on corrupt TSPLOST
July 30th, 2012
3:11 pm
Take away those paid to be there and our corrupt governor and his flunkies would be there alone.
John Galt
July 30th, 2012
3:13 pm
I went line by line through the proposals. Nothing will eliminate the five traffic lights between myself and all of these improvements, meaning that I will still have the longest delays nearest my home.
Odds are it’s the same for you.
We already have layers of government that are responsible for EVERYTHING proposed in TSPLOST. Since they could not convince us to raise our taxes directly to solve our local issues, they propose a regional tax and imply someone else will pay to resolve our problems.
The main beneficiary? The city of Atlanta, who does not even have the fiscal discipline to pay for their own sewer system maintenance.
Bernie Matt
July 30th, 2012
3:14 pm
More black faces at the rally to vote yes than you will ever see working on any road project! Keep financing your own oppression, then want to talk my ear off about how, “they” won’t give Obama a chance. Some of my people are so delusional it hurts my heart.
emack06
July 30th, 2012
3:17 pm
Nathan, Reed, I am very disappointed in your actions on this TSplost crap. Basically you are telling the people either vote yes or pay the consequences. And I ask myself “What are the consequences?”. A week ago that question was answered in one of your pro-Tsplost TV ads. Higher gas taxes and property taxes. So basically you and your thug comissions are giving the people an ultimatum in which you are cleverly trying to dis guise as being the people’s decision. Well, my response is “NO” to T-SPLOTS, “NO” to Deal in the next gubernatorial election and “NO” to Reed in the next mayoral election.
jess
July 30th, 2012
3:19 pm
Although T-Splost is being sold as a way to reduce traffic problems, a quick look at the projects listed in the ajc yesterday begs the question…..HOW. The vast majority of the Atlanta and regional projects do nothing to help traffic. In fact, the lion’s share of the funding goes to combining MARTA maintenance facilities, and station upgrades, and to the beltline. How is this possibly going to get cars off the expressways?
Bernie Matt
July 30th, 2012
3:22 pm
When Gov. Deal says “ghetto grandmothers” and when Kasim Reed’s campaign plays the race card to get you to be scared of voting for the white woman. They are playing on your stupidity, both white and black, because we see here that they can agree to defraud us all. Middle class and poor people of all races have to begin to form coalitions to vote our interest and stop voting our fears of each other. Otherwise, the sharks like Deal and Reed will continue to exist in government and run our lives forever.
kyla love
July 30th, 2012
3:27 pm
Has anybody ask the question, What happens if these project go over budget and are not completed in time.
Right on
July 30th, 2012
3:29 pm
“I went line by line through the proposals.”
I am glad you did and I hope others do, too. This thing will not do enough to relieve traffic and it is sickening to compare what it is and how it is being sold.
emack06
July 30th, 2012
3:32 pm
With all the money you idots spent trying to convince us to vote “Yes” for this crap, you could have used it to actually do the work you are claiming you want done. Atlanta’s traffic problem is can easliy be solved by promoting more flex hours and telecommuting by companies. Heck If half the companies allow rolling telecommuting, it woul free up 25% of the traffic each week day. Another option is to build an interstate connecting I675 @ I285 to GA400 @I85. This is something our “Federal” tax dollars should already pay for without overtaxing the citizens of the region.
Redandblackpeachy
July 30th, 2012
3:48 pm
I think the issue with T-SPLOST is a lack of trust and a lack of clarity. Most people are for resolving the commute and infrastructure issues. The question really becomes can it and will it be done by passing T-SPLOST. Even today I am looking for the answers to those questions. I am one of the undecided.
Ga Values VOTE NO FOR WASTE, GRAFT & CORRUPTION
July 30th, 2012
3:56 pm
Fifty cents out of every dollar for traffic congestion relief just isn’t enough. An important principle was not observed — that to reduce traffic congestion you have to do things that reduce traffic congestion.
A new plan is needed that ranks projects by how much they would actually reduce traffic congestion. Projects that reduce traffic delay the most (say per million or billion dollars) should be at the top. Others shouldn’t be on the list at all. Perhaps some transit would be good enough to make the new list. They are not in this plan.
It is a disservice to spend more than half the money on projects that cannot reduce traffic congestion. It would make as much sense to offer the gas station $7 per gallon to fill up the car, rather than the posted $3.50.
Why isn't there more MARTA projects
July 30th, 2012
3:57 pm
The solution is the same solution it was years ago, send MARTA Rail out 75 & 85 both ways, same for 20. Send a commuter rail all the way to Macon and Athens. And if my neighbors in Gwinnett and the other suburb counties don’t want “that element” coming to their neighborhood they can move further out. It is just asinine that the MARTA rail does not actually run all the way to Mall of Georgia, Flowery Branch, Eagle’s Landing, Conyers and Six Flags or Douglasville.
Mass transit is the answer!
emack06
July 30th, 2012
4:07 pm
@Bob Decker
I had to laugh. This region is behind the times. A Full-feldge casino would boost the local economy. I’ve been to many casinos over the past few years. Never had I felt unsafe in a casino. If done right with proper security, a casino could be just want this region needs. But not just a casino, rather an entertainment complex/Resort style casino. Much like HardRock Casino in Hollywood, Fl combined with the elegance of Beau Rivage.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
July 30th, 2012
4:07 pm
If polls were elections, the gays would be prancing down the aisle as we speak, and we know how those amendment referendums always go..TSPLOST is toast. VOTE NO on 7/31, or do as I did and vote early.
Retired Old Atlantan
July 30th, 2012
4:16 pm
Just say NO !!! loud and clear.
Kris
July 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
@ kyla love 3:27 pm
“Has anybody ask the question, What happens if these project go over budget and are not completed in time.”
What happens is the LOW bidder gets the job and after all is signed POCKETS LINED OOPS I the low bidder forgot to add the sand and tar for the mix that will be another 6 billion…that’s the way it works, Wash rinse (line pockets) ..Repeat ……
1 doz + crooks asphalt (DEAL, REED Deal, Cagle, , and Lewis Johnson..Thrasher,Matthews ) Laugh all the way to the bank.
On another note “Both dollars or two dollars?” I have a Bill Clinton # dollar bill to toss in
Vote NO
NO TSPLOST
July 30th, 2012
4:28 pm
This exceedingly expensive boondoggle will simply enrich politicians who have no integrity, no industry, and no decency. The projects will take twice as long and cost three times as much. VOTE NO!!!!!
morerightthanleft
July 30th, 2012
4:33 pm
voting no!! on any and all increases of taxes…when did politicians become trustworthy and not crooked…you want more money and my trust..nah!!! …this quick knee response reminds me of how obamacare was rammed down my throat ….i dont trust our politicians…so im not giving them more money , power or votes
Info
July 30th, 2012
4:34 pm
So I went to look at my region’s roundtable approved transportation project list and I found a 192 page report. This link is on the T-SPLOST web site if you want to check yourself (district #3). So who is the marketing genius who got paid $8 million so that when asked by someone on how the T-SPLOST affects me I get a report that is 192 pages long. I’m voting NO now. Marketing fail! Well at least you got paid $8 million.
Chris
July 30th, 2012
4:44 pm
C’mon people, don’t you want to be part of a huge change for the city. Get over your close-minded general disgust for our elected officials at least for one day and pass this thing. Don’t punish the citizens of Atlanta, just because you feel you may have been jaded in some way in the past… Vote YES! we need this to happen now, period.
Oh and BTW, I am a native, have always paid the 1% extra in Fulton and have been very proud to… it pays for MARTA, which brought growth, the Olympics, and created an environment where large corporations wanted to headquarter themselves… We are now getting as stagnant as our traffic, can we change that please?
Jesscia Helms
July 30th, 2012
4:50 pm
The extremes on the left and right oppose this. Let’s hope the middle holds and this thing passes!