How will the Republicans save one of their young stars? If you don't think they're not discussing this, you don't know politics. I think the plan has been laid out in bits and pieces these last few days, no pun intended. While we have no "official" cause of the collapse, I believe Republicans are planning for the worst.
STEP 1: Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, and head of MNDOT, is going down. Pawlenty has given her the Brownie treatment: Star & Tribune
Although last week's disaster occurred on her watch, Pawlenty defended her. "Yes. I think she's doing a good job," he said.
His former chief of staff is saying something else:
David Gaither, chief of staff to Pawlenty until late 2006, said he fears Molnau could become a distraction as the transportation funding debate heads for a possible special session where legislators could enact the first gas-tax increase since 1988.
STEP 2: Pawlenty wants bridge mostly rebuilt by time of 2008 Republican Convention in St. Paul. Star & Tribune
Also, the state declared it intends to start work in October on a replacement bridge and complete it by the end of 2008. It's an effort that Bush endorsed.
While it's admirable to move fast, I think Minnesotans want it done right. The recent Star & Tribune article seems to blaim poor inspections by MNDOT partly on the motorists themselves: Star & Tribune
State traffic engineers would close lanes on the bridge for the inspections, and most of the time the lane closures were from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The snooper arms could operate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. That put inspectors under continual pressure to finish work before the evening rush hour, said one of three experts.
When the lanes were closed, it was not uncommon for inspectors to be the target of insults -- even thrown objects -- from inconvenienced motorists.
STEP 3: Depite vetoing two transportation bills with a gas tax to pay for infrastructure work, he claims he had changed his mind about it even before the bridge collapse. While I do not doubt he has discussed the gas tax in the past, I am surprised to hear he was for it. I suspect he will blame his past views on the influence of his Lt. Gov. Rochester Post Bulletin
Gov. Tim Pawlenty acknowledged Monday that he had conversations with key staff members and lawmakers about revising his opposition to a gas tax increase well before last week's Minneapolis bridge collapse.
Pawlenty will be reinvented as a leader in infrastructure improvements, a Nixon goes to China move. While I think Pawlenty's most vocal supporters in MN want to continue "No New Taxes", the national Republican leadership sees it differently.