Comments on: Scott Drops Bill To End Tolls ON GA-400; Abolish State Road And Tollway Authority

By: B Balz

B Balz — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:18:10 +0000

Because…. Most people now have two jobs (or used to) two kids and are too busy to care. The simple fact is, most people have no idea how to effectively advocate their position. Thus, they end up sounding foolish and/or are marginalized.

From above:

“The too-busy-to-think-about-it” demographic, due to either silence or inefficacy preserve their right to pay and pay and pay.

By: polisavvy

polisavvy — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:32:12 +0000

That’s pretty funny, David!

By: David Staples

David Staples — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:09:12 +0000

Agreed. I saw something in the AJC’s vent not long ago from someone bragging about cruising through the cruise lane on 400 and their kids calling all those paying the toll “peasants”. My response was that the three Ferraris I saw going through the toll booths not long ago were also peasants I suppose?

By: David Staples

David Staples — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:07:20 +0000

A western bypass or northern ARC would not relieve congestion on 400.

So what you’re saying is that all that traffic backing up to get onto 285 and from 285 couldn’t possibly be relieved by adding a secondary route without traffic lights? I think you’d be surprised.

By: David Staples

David Staples — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:04:09 +0000

“And given his point (that I missed in the text of the release as it was in a separate sidebar) that the toll authority is eating up $5 Million a year in admin costs, eliminating the toll authority can free up money to spend on transportation, no?”

Yes, and no. Yes, it will free up the $5M a year in admin costs. However, if you’re no longer taking in $22M, you’re not really “freeing up money”, since you’re eliminating the source of the money as well. You’re effectively adding a $2M a year expense to the state budget for maintenance costs of 400.

By: hewhoone

hewhoone — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:17:35 +0000

Only a Democrat would suggest we need to raise taxes so we can fire bad teachers.

By: Game Fan

Game Fan — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:23:12 +0000

This would be a big plus for Scott as far as I’m concerned, with a big bunch of Ron Paul/Lou Dobbs type Republicans IMHO. And for the new reader Game Fan hates toll roads. And the NAFTA Superhighway.

By: LoyaltyIsMyHonor

LoyaltyIsMyHonor — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:21:56 +0000

um, well it’s pretty elementary, because there’s no alternative to the revenue stream. There’s really no such thing as a tax(fee) cut, it’s all about shifting the cost from one group to another.

I don’t use 400, so if the tolls are removed, I’m forced to subsidize some other schlep’s use of the road — It’s pure Republicanism, right? Kind of like, I have group health insurance, why should I have to subsidize some loser’s individual health plan?

By: reaganrev4

reaganrev4 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:22:25 +0000

impressive spin to really avoid my entire post

By: polisavvy

polisavvy — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:07:10 +0000

The bigger issue is that at least he introduced something that should have been introduced years ago by the ones who were elected to represent the citizens this affects. Where were their representatives all this time?

By: polisavvy

polisavvy — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:05:23 +0000

Thanks for providing us with the information regarding the timing of this matter. Some seemed to feel that he was just pandering and waited until the last minute to file something to bring publicity to himself. Hopefully, those who felt that Representative Scott had done this will back off now that we know it has been on the docket for a while now. Thanks also for clarifying the numbers. I think it’s a wonderful thing for Representative Scott to tackle, especially since it is not even his district. Government needs to change. It needs to get smaller. The citizens who ride on Georgia 400 should not be forced to continue to pay a toll years after the toll was to end.

By: polisavvy

polisavvy — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:57:19 +0000

Excellent post, PoliticiansWife. If ever this State needed smaller government, it’s now (wouldn’t hurt on the federal level either). Good ‘ole King Roy, now that’s what Georgia needs — NOT!!

By: polisavvy

polisavvy — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:53:36 +0000

Don’t go on a vaca for two weeks. Stay here with us crazy people and have a good time. Sorry I was grumpy with you earlier. Didn’t mean to be nasty. Some days it kind of creeps up on me, though.

By: Mark Dillon

Mark Dillon — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:43:32 +0000

Lets focus on the REAL issue, especially after this weekend. The GOVERNMENT builds a toll road by saying the Toll will only be collected until the road is paid off. GOVERNMENT then decides they like the money stream coming in so they change the law. The question shouldn’t be why someone now decides to bring this is up or who is ultimately responsible for this change, the question should be why do we, the people, put with this nonsense.

By: Culpepper

Culpepper — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:18:29 +0000

Everyone knows this is eye candy. Scott needs press and name recognition in metro Atlanta. With new toll roads being proposed, it is unlikely that this U-turn will occur now.

But, hey, give him credit, at least he introduced something original.

By: AubieTurtle

AubieTurtle — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:08:27 +0000

Rep Scott, thanks for reading my Peach Pundit post a few months back. I knew someone would eventually swing at this softball.

By: ByteMe

ByteMe — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:56:20 +0000

Haha so no bills can be put out this close to cross-over day without your critique?

Why would I limit my criticism just to a time-frame? Seriously, are you unaware of where you’re posting your comments?

By: reaganrev4

reaganrev4 — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:46:36 +0000

Haha so no bills can be put out this close to cross-over day without your critique? When do you think new bills should stop being accepted then if two days before is not a good time? I have been at the capitol, working on day 30 and it is mayhem because legislators are trying to get all the bills they didn’t get in, in before cross-over day. Any bills deemed too close to cross-over day by Byte are for political posturing. You are doing exactly what you criticize people for by “playing politics with a good bill”. A legislator cant simply produce a bill anymore?

By: ThePoliticiansWife

ThePoliticiansWife — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:43:18 +0000

If anyone has questions on the timing of the bill…just know that it has been under revision for several weeks.

As for “funding our highways,” most believe the revenue generated from the toll goes toward funding much needed transportation projects. That’s seldom the case.

According to the AJC, of the $22 million or so the state reaps from Ga. 400 drivers, about $7 million goes to running the toll authority and $9 million a year goes to paying down the debt.

Roughly $2 Million of the above Toll Authority costs taken from annual revenue is spent on maintaining the road, and there are incidentals such as the occasional repaving and salaries of staffers of SRTA.

As of March 2009, GA 400 was roughly $26.6 Million in debt and the state had $32 million set aside to pay it when the project’s bond financing is concluded in 2011. Former Toll Authority Director Gene Evans went on record as saying: “The authority needs to use the excess toll money for salaries of officials who arrange financing for the state Department of Transportation.”

It’s time to change the way we govern and bring down the toll!

By: ThePoliticiansWife

ThePoliticiansWife — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:20:57 +0000

We are in an economic downturn this year that is forcing state government to find any possible efficiency. This is one such efficiency. When we put the responsibilities of the SRTA into the DOT, we are streamlining government processes and reducing the tax burden on Georgia citizens. Second of all, and this is to be emphasized much less than the first point, Roy Barnes is running for governor this year. Since he is the one who orchestrated the change in the legislation in the first place, we need to take this step now to send a message that Georgians are in favor of “smaller government that stands behind its promises,” not the dictatorial, King Roy style of backroom politics.