Illinois voters are asked to vote on an amendment to the state constitution that would require that all money collected through gas taxes, tolls, car and drivers licenses, etc., could only be used for transportation-related purposes. The Chicago Tribune (may be pay-walled) had quite a good story about it on the front page October 17th, and the official amendment text is here. How should a progressive vote on this amendment?
I think the answer is “No”.
- Bad Governance: This sort of fiddly stuff does not belong in a Constitution.
- Bad Policy: Illinois is in bad financial shape already; why make it worse? If we have to choose between spending for schools and spending for roads, why tie the legislature’s hands with an amendment like this?
- Follow the Money: Who is promoting this amendment? Asphalt companies, contractors, and yes, some of our brothers and sisters in construction-related unions. According to the Tribune, they have raised over three million dollars to promote the amendment, and we’ve already begun to see slick TV ads about how good this will be for all of us. We can’t blame these people for wanting to protect their profits and their jobs, but we don’t need to go along with it.
So when you go to vote for Hillary Clinton, Tammy Duckworth, and all the down-ballot Democrats in Illinois, take a moment to vote “NO” on the “Safe Roads Amendment”.
I saw another diary on this topic a week or so ago, by MillieNeon, reported in the Election Roundup for 10/17/2016, and I thought about just making this a comment on that. But the more recent developments like the Tribune article made me think that a longer piece like this might be more appropriate.
Speaking of later developments, the Tribune came out against the amendment yesterday, and today there was a fine letter to the editor from representatives of the Better Government Association, the Heartland Alliance, etc., making the same case I am making (they state it better, IMHO)