Your morning jolt: One-third of early voters supported TSPLOST, says poll
Only a third of early metro Atlanta voters supported the transportation sales tax, according to the firm that conducted a general poll for Channel 2 Action News last week.
Rosetta Stone Communications, a GOP-oriented political service firm, last night polled 656 randomly selected early voters in the 10-county TSPLOST district. Support was measured at 32 percent.
As of last Thursday, 123,870 early votes had been cast – we should have updated numbers that include Friday’s ballots by sometime this morning.
Last week, Kevin Ross and Paul Benacke, Strategists for the Untie Atlanta campaign said that, while discouraging, recent polls don’t measure the new voters their campaign has driven to the polls. Wrote the pair:
The campaign sampled 5,991 out of the 33,551 absentee voters and we are winning 57 percent to 43 percent; furthermore, the campaign sampled 5,681 out of the 71,298 early voters and we are winning 53 percent to 47 percent.
The Rosetta Stone findings would appear to contradict that.
“The math is simple, and the results are clear” said John Garst of Rosetta Stone. “The TSPLOST was badly defeated in the early voting period.”
Margin of error for the automated Rosetta Stone poll was placed at +/- 3.8 percentage points.
In an AJC survey released Sunday, 51 percent of likely voters said they would reject the 1 percent sales tax.
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No doubt the timing of this piece of news below is aimed at Tuesday balloting. From Jim Burress and WABE (90.1FM):
In a letter addressed to Attorney General Eric Holder, Ga NAACP chapter president Edward DuBose says the Georgia Department of Transportation engages in “willful” acts of discrimination against African-American and other minority-owned businesses.
DuBose says G-DOT’s own internal audit confirms the charges, and asks for the Department of Justice to investigate.
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Then again, the Newnan Times-Herald brings word of an opposing position: The group 100 Black Men of Atlanta has endorsed the TSPLOST.
***
You know that this is a “have-to” – not a “want to” for the White House. From the New York Times:
Former President Bill Clinton is set to play a central part in the Democratic convention, aides said, and will formally place President Obama’s name into nomination by delivering a prime-time speech designed to present a forceful economic argument for why Mr. Obama deserves to win a second term.
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In additional excerpts released by ABC News from its overseas interview with Mitt Romney, the GOP presidential candidate was unable to say whether he ever paid a lower tax rate than the 13.9 percent he paid in 2010. Via the Los Angeles Times:
“I haven’t calculated that. I’m happy to go back and look, but my view is I’ve paid all the taxes required by law,” Romney [said].
Romney’s 13.9% rate falls far below rates typically applied to those with incomes approaching the $20.1 million he made in 2010.
“I know that I pay a very substantial amount of taxes, and every year since the beginning of my career so far as I can recall,” he later added.
***
Voters in northeast Georgia today will find this message from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on their home answering machines:
”If you agree that it’s time our elected officials stop talking at us and start listening to us, then I hope you’ll join me in supporting Martha Zoller for Congress. Martha’s running against the establishment, but with all of our support, she can win. Martha has been fighting for conservative causes for years. In addition to being pro-life and a firm defender of our Constitution, including our second amendment rights, Martha is a strong fiscal conservative…..”
Now, maybe it’s not a big deal, but in her message, Palin mispronounces the 9th District candidate’s name. The former radio talk show host’s name rhymes with “collar.” Palin pronounced it “Z-owe-ller.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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234 comments Add your comment
td
July 30th, 2012
12:32 pm
too late to complain
July 30th, 2012
12:06 pm
“For all you repubs that are complaining about Governor Deal, isn’t this the man that you all wanted to lead this state?”
Second choice but much better then the Democratic alternative.
” Is he not doing a good enough job? ”
On most issues he is doing a fine job. On this issue he needs to be slapped down by the voters and rethink the thing.
The Thin Guy
July 30th, 2012
12:32 pm
When Sonny Perdue ran for governor the first time he said that the one of the first things he would do when he was elected was synchronize all of the red lights in Atlanta. Fulfill that promise and I’ll be willing to consider your next proposals. Both I and my telephone recorder are looking forward to August 1 when I will no longer have 5 messages awaiting me from various pols. Hate to break the news to you but there is nothing on the ballot tomorrow that would motivate me to take an hour out of my life to vote. November is another matter.
Road Scholar
July 30th, 2012
12:33 pm
BB:”There is no reason that the legislature can’t take up any of these projects on a case by case basis and properly manage the state’s budget to focus on traffic congestion. ”
All these projects are from the 2040 ARC Plan which will probably be implemented at a much later year based on anticipated revenues. The tax would accelerate these projects! I agree with your second point, but they are scared to do their jobs!
buckhead bob
July 30th, 2012
12:35 pm
Even a gas tax would be more appropriately tailored to proportionally taxing those who will use the roads the most. If you have a long commute, and you choose to drive alone, you’ll use more fuel.
judetheobtuse
July 30th, 2012
12:37 pm
I watched a video about sustainability issues in Singapore and was ashamed that Atlanta seems an ignorant backwater compared to this beautiful, modern cosmopolitan city. Check it out sometime. Clean, effective seamless underground transportation making car travel almost completely unnecessary; rainwater retention and solar panels on all the high rises, and on and on while this redneck, backward small minded conservative throw back resists any kind of change that threatens their little bailiwicks. Sad, sad, sad.
Road Scholar
July 30th, 2012
12:37 pm
On the TIFIA loan, do you know the state has already been approved for one on the I575/I75 corridor outside the perimeter many years ago? NO private firm has been able to meet the remaining funding due to the remaining costs. Why do you think they removed rail to the Galleria and re designated that money to the I 75 corridor project? I believe they now have 5 proposals to examine!
Middle of the Road
July 30th, 2012
12:39 pm
“Even a gas tax would be more appropriately tailored to proportionally taxing those who will use the roads the most. If you have a long commute, and you choose to drive alone, you’ll use more fuel.”
Yes, Bob, that is what it does. The longer the commute, the more you pay in gas tax.
Right on
July 30th, 2012
12:41 pm
Great point about removing rail from the list. It is clear that the plan fails to take cars off the road. Vote no.
Middle of the Road
July 30th, 2012
12:42 pm
“I watched a video about sustainability issues in Singapore ”
Lots of things can be done in an oppressive, totalitarian, Communist regime.
ATLJacket
July 30th, 2012
12:49 pm
I weep for you folks that live in the ‘burbs and are far away from retirement age. Good luck. I’ll continue to live downtown and drive against traffic to my job at the top end. All of you on here really should read the bill and educate yourselves on the protections put in place to ensure this money is spent in a manner consistent with the bill as it is written today. Laying more asphalt is like giving a syringe full of dope to an addict. I’m of the opinion we should lay that commuter rail and increase the number of marta train lines while simultaneously decreasing the number of interstate lanes on 75/85 heading in and out of town. With no motivation to get off the roads, people will not do it. We are too tied to our laziness and large gas guzzers. The key is to give people a choice and then make it harder to drive which I don’t think is addressed properly in this list of projects which are still pretty heavily tilted towards asphalt.
Taipei Personality
July 30th, 2012
12:54 pm
The absolute waste of money known as the Atlanta Streetcar project has polarized people against this T-SPLOST, which otherwise contains some useful provisions. It’s too bad that politicians can’t let go of the losers, and in a sense the voters have no choice but to throw out the baby with the bath water. The Beltline is not much better. Rails are simply too expensive. For light rail fans…investigate the BRT provision for the northwest corridor. It is much cheaper and more quickly implementable. Light rail will only succeed if we can work with the existing rail companies (NS and CSX), perhaps attention should be focused on them. I have not heard of ANYONE trying to work with those companies, all we ever hear about is government-centered solutions. And we wonder where the problem lies…
Build public trust by using taxes for transportation, not stadium | News-ON Atlanta
July 30th, 2012
1:05 pm
[...] started to write it’s what “most people” would expect. But, given that we still are getting vastly divergent reports of the decisions of even those voters who have already cast their ballots, I’m not [...]
Haha
July 30th, 2012
1:06 pm
I’m surprised that the Conservatives are willing to take time out of their busy schedules to address this issue when they’re so busy trying to keep gay marriage illegal, banning abortion and cramming Jesus down everyone’s throats.
Baby's daddy
July 30th, 2012
1:11 pm
Ain’t it true that this tax hits the people who can least afford it and don’t do a damn thing about gettin’ them around town to get a job. Ain’t it true this tax lines the pockets of the good ol’ boy contractors ans businessmen. Than if all this ain’t it true stuff is true, ain’t it true the rich is robiin’ from the poor again.
Kris
July 30th, 2012
1:18 pm
@ Baby’s and Haha…very true words…Welcome to GA where the elected officials (term used loosely),
have BETTERED themselves at the cost of the POOR.
Vote No on corrupt TSPLOST
Trey
July 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
I voted No. This is just another unnecessary tax. If the government wants T-SPLOST, how about we stop funding other frivolous things to fund this, so taxes don’t have to go up for this garbage? For example, stop funding the Georgia Peach Pass.
Jack
July 30th, 2012
1:26 pm
Since our present economic downturn was caused by bad planning, most voters think T-SPLOST is the result of bad planning. And as mentioned above, if the same planners of the belt line and the trolly project had anything to do with T-SPLOST, that’s enough reason to vote NO.
kyla love
July 30th, 2012
1:27 pm
I’m voting “No” on the T-splost
TPLOST: Atlanta’s Traffic Drama Continues | Bryce J. McNeil
July 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
[...] proposal for which the funds would be dedicated to a variety of transit initatives. Early numbers don’t bode well that the tax will be approved by metro Atlanta voters. And indeed, while the entire state will be [...]
Don't Be Silly...
July 30th, 2012
2:02 pm
Can y’all see the “fat lady” priming her voice for an early rendition of “Hey, hey… good bye” just 30 minutes after the polls close. My prediction 60/40.
Pay particular attention to the sweat beads on the foreheads of state and local politicians when addressing the media after the vote.
It’s gonna feel like Christmas to the NO crowd – and I’m damn happy to watch this money-grabbing tax go down in flames.
Yeee Haaaaw!!!
DD
July 30th, 2012
2:16 pm
“I watched a video about sustainability issues in Singapore and was ashamed that Atlanta seems an ignorant backwater compared to this beautiful, modern cosmopolitan city. Check it out sometime. Clean, effective seamless underground transportation making car travel almost completely unnecessary;”
Really, you watched a video. Have you been to Singapore? it is a very congested yet densly populated city. The same arguments made time and time again by statist and gov’t planners about public rail transit systems and how they will save the world from the evil automobile while preserving the environment. First, light rail runs on electric power not windmills so the power has to be generated and it’s not solar powered if you get the drift. Second cities in the U.S. outside of the Northeast (whose rail/transit systems are in part subsidized by the rest of the country) are not nearly as densly populated and condusive to those solutions. This is not about finding solutions to transportation it is about finding another source of revenue for politicians and those that are the benefactors of this bill. That is why I will vote no. Although I could simply vote based on my own situation living and working within the same 10 mile radius in the N. Fulton (soon to be Milton) county suburbs. And buckhead Bob people have moved out to the the suburbs for better schools and lower housing costs because they want to have a higher quality of life so let it go. We choose not to live in a shack (or have most of our income go to a mortgage), pay high taxes in Atlanta and have our children subject to the APS system. The fact is Atlanta has been progressing towards regionalization within the greater metro area for years. Here is to voting no on TSPLOST, pressing for Milton county and then may the best run counties or areas win.
Truthiness
July 30th, 2012
2:29 pm
@DirtyDawg and @Lt Col – I agree with you. Atlanta has the “4th worst commute” in the country, and everyone knows our roads were designed by drunken monkeys. I, too, am putting aside my usual cynicism and distrust, and voting yes. I have reviewed the list of projects, which includes improvements for specific intersections that are notoriously problematic – you may know them from your daily traffic report: I-20 at 285. 285 at 400. 285 at 85. 75 at Windy Hill. Cobb Parkway. Holcomb Bridge at 400. All of these locations are on the list of TIA projects. I personally believe that by fixing our poorly-designed roads and intersections, it will reduce accidents and congestion, even if the traffic volume stays the same (ex: diverging diamond at 285 and Ashford Dunwoody). And I know it takes a lot of money to do this.
I would rather support an initiative like TSPLOST that claims to offer citizen oversight, because at least that claim can be held over the politician’s heads. This is far better than shoving the 85 HOT lanes down our throats without asking first. While this is not a magic bullet, it’s a start, and at least gives us a chance to begin fixing some very basic problems. Heck, even Clark Howard supports TSPLOST. And as Roosevelt said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
To the few naïve commenters who think the solution is to simply “move closer to your job”, I’m glad that you are fortunate enough to have this luxury. Do you really think people voluntarily choose to have a long commute?
kevin3
July 30th, 2012
2:35 pm
Your last ditch or seeking your YES or NO ends at 7:00 A.M. at your poll. Yes, perhaps the above is right however, every county is not saying yes! Why tax yourself again in this economy? Most of you are already pay this transportation tax, you will be pay a $2 cent verse 1 cent. Don’t be fool about how words are played if you can afford to pay, fine, those that can’t what are you going to do if it past will you have the money to give it up? This so called TSPLOST is poor planning, it won’t untie any county, nor will you see it; it is billions placed on top of millions which you do not know about and you are not going to see what you have invision in your mind. 10 years of funding can take up to 30 years because Georgia law provides your state legislatives to vote it back in to keep it from exspiring for as many times they deemed necessary. Now you do the math for your family over the 10 to 30 years and see what you getting yourself into!
Ricardo Wright
July 30th, 2012
2:35 pm
VOTE YES. We need the investment in infrastructure badly. My family’s construction company has 33 hard working MOTIVATED crew men itching to get to work. They need to put food on the table, and Georgia needs them to pay taxes and spend their income on food, clothes, rent, mortgages, and other things to keep our economy going. If you are against this because you are paranoid about taxes, learn the difference between wasteful spending and INVESTMENT in infrastructure. This is a WIN-WIN. We get better roads and rail, cleaner air, shorter commute AND we put people to work and boost this economy. We have 9.2% unemployment people. This is VERY BADLY needed. Republicans (like me) and Democrats are united on this one. The people saying no are fringe elements that are trying to scare you. My guys need to WORK.
Vincent Topalli
July 30th, 2012
2:41 pm
What a sad sad day. We Georgians, we Atlantans, can not get our of our own way because of a stubborn and irrational paranoia and fear of (gasp) taxes. This isn’t some random tax folks. It was carefully designed with tons of input from the community and will have unprecedented oversight. Our infrastructure is getting worse and worse every day and Fortune 500 companies are not going to put up with it. You want to reduce corporate taxes but you won’t support this? Both are ways to get corporations to STAY here and keep us EMPLOYED. Charlotte NC and Jacksonville FL are laughing at us. How sad. We should be competing with New York, London, and Pari not them. VOTE YES. Its ONE CENT on the dollar for crying out loud.
oldfart
July 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
As it stands right now HOT lanes are going to happen even if TSPLOST passes. $300,000,000 in SEED money in motor fuel taxes for the $1 Billion dollar HOT lanes on I75 mostly in Cobb were earmarked at the end of the last legislative session. Gena Evans and SRTA plan to ring and criss-cross Atlanta with HOT lanes REGARDLESS of TSPLOST passage.
oldfart
July 30th, 2012
3:04 pm
When the automatic escalation built in for inflation for the state sales tax on motor fuel was set to take place earlier in the year Gov. Deal jumped in and killed it. I’m paraphrasing but his comments were basically that it wouldn’t be prudent, wouldn’t be prudent at all at this juncture. Why is it that increase in the motor fuel sales tax from 12.1 cents to 12.9 is not feasible in the current climate but a sales tax of 1% on everything across the board including food for the purpose of transportation is endorsed by his Honor?
Middle of the Road
July 30th, 2012
4:09 pm
“Do you really think people voluntarily choose to have a long commute?”
For those that live in the suburbs and commute to downtown Atlanta – of course they do. They choose to live where a nice big back yard is relatively inexpensive, and where there are good schools and people don’t get killed in home invasions.
Middle of the Road
July 30th, 2012
4:11 pm
“Do you really think people voluntarily choose to have a long commute?”
They could live in a 500 sq foot apartment in a condo in downtown with thousands of people around them, no privacy, APS schools for their kids.
Look before I leap...
July 30th, 2012
5:09 pm
@Middle of the Road
I live in midtown, 2400 sq ft condo, no yard work, a great view, 2 minute walk to over 35 great restaurants, covered and secured parking, 5 minute walk to Piedmont Park (my yard is bigger than your yard), a pool, deck and patio area with bbq (that gets almost no use by the residents here), a superb workout facility, conference rooms, a concierge, valet dry cleaning, a club room with catering facilities if I care to entertain more than 30 people.
That’s how we roll in my family.
You can have your McMansion in the burbs, the Olive Garden and the 1 hour commute in and out of town. Since my wife and I drive collectively less than 10K miles/yr, I say bring on the tolls and higher gas taxes – will cost us FAR less than the 12% sales tax increase that TSPLOST calls for.
Jess
July 30th, 2012
10:11 pm
This plan does nothing to relieve congestion on the expressways, doesn’t help the suburbs, doesn’t help Intown, and only benefits the cronies of officials who want to line their own pockets. I live in Atlanta, and not even the people Intown want this. All we’d see is more lousy Marta that still won’t go anywhere useful in a timely fashion, and oh, we’ll get a trolley. What??? How does that help any of the everyday people trying to get to work? The suburbs’ pet projects under this plan are equally useless. This is just more money taken from taxpayers that won’t benefit any of us in any county. No to yet another wasteful project and political graft.
Mike
July 30th, 2012
11:08 pm
s
Mike
July 30th, 2012
11:11 pm
@Look before I leap
Not “every suburb” is boring. I live in Vinings and love it. You list the positives of living in the city, but don’t mention any negatives. ( Higher crime, Smog, no yard) and i’ll take my own private pool and yard over a condo pool that is shared with everyone.
Today’s Headlines | Streetsblog Capitol Hill
July 31st, 2012
8:38 am
[...] Early Voters Reject Atlanta Transportation Tax (AJC) [...]