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Disaster sparks political bridge building
The sharp political divide over raising the fuel tax in Minnesota may be spanned by the disaster itself. In fact, supporters of a gasoline tax hike now have an ally in the governor who strongly opposed the idea and twice vetoed transportation bills featuring such a boost. "I think all options should be on the table and I'm willing to at least consider a gas tax increase," Governor Tim Pawlenty told Capitol reporters today. "As long as we can put together a good and sound transportation package overall that would be a marriage of ideas, a blending of ideas we have as well." Pawlenty made his remarks from the same spot in his reception room where he vetoed the 10-cent per gallon hike in 2005. The state's tax has been 20 cents per gallon since 1988, while the federal fuel tax has been 18.4 cents since 1993. "What's changed is we've had a catastrophe, we've had a failure," Pawlenty told reporters today after being asked about his steadfast opposition in the past. "We have a real concern that arises in the wake of this catastrophe, and I've said I will do everything necessary to address these concerns." In the waning hours of the 2007 session lawmakers attempted to override Pawlenty's 2007 gas tax veto but fell a few votes short. At the time House minority leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, accused Democrats of trying to "jam a gas price increase down the throats of your constituents." But lawmakers emerged from a tour of the 35-W bridge collapse today convinced more than ever of the need to raise more money for roads and bridges. After viewing the fallen bridge from ground zero legislative leaders seemed confident the dynamics of the debate have changed. "I know if people can run from their cars and save other people that the legislature can come together and put a package together that will make a major investment," House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher told reporters. The Minneapolis Democrat added, "This is really a call to action because this is a duty that we need to fill on behalf of the memory of the people who've lost their lives, as well as the victims who are still injured." Senator Murphy's Take The head of the Senate Transportation Committee, Sen Steve Murphy, told reporters that even before the bridge collapse the Governor was beginning to warm up to the idea of raising the fuel tax in conversations with key lawmakers. "The Governor, before this tragic accident, was talking about a gas tax increase. So the Governor is well aware we have a terrible problem in this state." The Governor later confirmed he'd been discussing a gas tax increase with lawmakers even the bride came tumbling down Wednesday. "We were considering a variety of options." Was the gas tax one of the options? "Yes, yes it was." Murphy, a Red Wing Democrat, has long been the strongest advocate in the Senate of raising the fuel tax. Last week's tragedy reinforced, at least for him, the need to invest in the underpinnings of our highway system. "It solidified the opinion I already had, that we're making a huge under-investment in our transportation infrastructure. We're in Minnesota. We can do better than what we have been doing." And while Murphy has been a strong critic of Pawlenty's vetoes in the past, he avoided sharp rhetoric today. In fact he said he could see the "pain etched in the faces" of the Governor and First Lady Mary Pawlenty last weekend when he encountered them outside a TV studio. "I gave the Governor a hug. I feel bad that he's in this position." Molnau as Transportation Chief Murphy, during a live interview on Minnesota Public Radio earlier in the day, said he was never comfortable with the Governor's running mate and Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau serving as Commissioner of Transportation. When asked about it later in the day he said it was too early to raise the issue of replacing Molnau as the head of MnDOT. But it didn't stop reporters from asking Governor Pawlenty about it as he sat next to Commissioner Molnau in his reception room. "The question was, do I still have confidence in the Lt Governor as Transportation commissioner?" Pawlenty said. "And the answer is yes, I think she's done a good job." Molnau was on hand as part of the state's Executive Council, which convened in the Governor's reception room at the Capitol to extend the bridge emergency executive order. Mileage Tax Talk The Lieutenant Governor has often pointed out that as cars become more fuel efficient, and run partially or fully on electric power, the gasoline tax will no longer be a reliable source of funding for roads. The state of Oregon is testing a mileage tax system and the MnDOT is interested in launching its own pilot project. But Senator Murphy today said alternative means of charging people for using the roads, such as a mileage tax, are still years away from becoming reality. "Right now we have the work horse, and that's the gas tax. Right now every penny counts." Capitol Gas Tax Wars At the time of Pawlenty's 2005 tax hike veto he took heat from Democrats, who accused him of putting politics ahead transportation needs. Pawlenty had taken a "no new taxes" pledge in 2002 while vying for, and winning, the Republican endorsement. "We passed a transportation bill in 2003," Pawlenty said today in defense of his record. "It was the first time there was a major infusion of money in transportation in a long time, and the Lieutenant Governor was a champion of that bill. I also proposed funding ideas to the legislature which were rejected." When he began his second term he said he was no longer tied to such a pledge, but he still vetoed the 2007 version of the gasoline tax hike. This time it also included regional sales taxes for mass transit and optional wheelage taxes for local roads and bridge. Pawlenty also objected to an extra two and a half cent per gallon fuel tax that would be triggered if the state's highway bond debt reached a critical point. And by then gas prices had passed $3.30 per gallon, compared to the $2.17 average on the day of the 2005 veto. The Governor's transportation plan, $1.7 billion in new spending over the next ten years, relied on issuing state bonds that would be repayed over 30 years with interest. Democrats, and some Republicans, favored a mix of bonding and new taxes. Changing Conversation Even if you never left the Capitol you'd know the 35-W bridge calamity has changed the conversation. For starters we have at least the mental image of Democratic firebrand Steve Murphy hugging Governor Pawlenty. And we now hear politicians using the word "infrastructure" without fear of losing the attention of voters. It's a word that, until now, rarely came up on the campaign trail. Even in the media, it's the type of word we tend to avoid because it's bound to make some people look away, turn the page or change the channel.
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