South Carolina- Runoff votes have been counted. Mark Sanford has been chosen by Lowcountry Republicans to face Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Bush in a special election for the US Congress on May 7, 2013. Since January, Hungryneck Strap-hangers has been working to make public transit an issue in the campaign. Guided rides were offered to all primary candidates. 5 unsuccessful Republican Candidates got on the Bus. One Green candidate, ultimately rejected by his party, got took a ride. Elizabeth Colbert Busch took the 41 Coleman Blvd. Bus from her home to work on March 14. Mark Sanford and the Green Party Nominee Gene Platt have both not yet been on the bus.
This morning we began contacting transit riders and friends of public transit here, to encourage them to contact both campaigns with input on the transit issue questions we put before all the campaigns in February. Of course whoever is elected will vote on the national appropriation for public transit, affecting every system in the United States which receives federal funds. All thirty million transit riders in the US have a dog in this this fight. Last year Congress cut the share of transportation funding given to public transit from 20 to 18% ending a stable share policy which had endured for 30 years. Some Republicans proposed cutting all federal transit funding entirely and putting the entire cost on state and local governments.
This decision, driven by the powerful road construction lobby, was made after eight straight years of declining auto operation in the US and despite a 6% increase in public transit utilization.
We're asking everyone who cares about public transit to contact the both campaigns with their input. Last year's cuts eliminated 14 thousand jobs for bus drivers, mechanics and dispatchers. The majority of these jobs were held by minorities, women and union members. Thousands of transit services, bus routes and transit runs were eliminated. Today vulnerable men and women walk miles trough the dark, often in crime ridden area, to get home at night after work because nearby bus lines or night runs have been cut.
We were out at the bus stops this morning with post cards asking local rider/voters to contact the campaigns with their input and to encourage Sanford to ride. We hope you'll join us. As always, public transit is a journey we make together.
Here is what the card says.--------
Talk to Your Candidates for US Congress about public transit. Their answers are due Friday, April 5 at 8 pm.
We’ll announce their answers on April 15 at 8 pm at the Longshoreman’s Hall on Morrison Drive in Charleston and begin distributing thousands of voter information cards
1. Have you ridden CARTA or Tri County Link Public Transit in the Lowcountry recently? Democrat Colbert Busch rode the CARTA 41 on March 14. Please ask Mark Sanford to ride this week so we can print it on the card.
2. Would you be willing to work to obtain Federal support to complete planning and construction of the Passenger Intermodal Transportation Center in N. Charleston which will combine a new Amtrak Train Station, Greyhound Station, Airport Shuttle, CARTA route hub and car rental services as well as offices and service businesses?
3. Would you support returning public transit’s share of the Federal Transportation Budget to 20% or more from it’s current reduced share of 18%? There is space for comment on other issues as well.
Please Contact the campaigns with your ideas:
Elizabeth Colbert Busch (D) 843-628-7441 or www.colbertbuschforcongress.com
Mark Sanford (R) 843-764-9188 or www.marksanford.com
Comment on our Hungryneck Straphangers Website
WWW.BUSEC.ORG/VOTE
PAID FOR BY WJ HAMILTON