Major Moves

Seems Mitch didn't learn much from his first year on the job. Don't rush something through until you know all the details. He ramrodded DST down our throats only to find that all his promises were flat out WRONG!

Now he is trying to force a "Check into Cash" deal through. Not smart Mitch... for you and the State of Indiana. The House Ways and Means committee quickly passed HB1008 late last night on to the full House. I sure hope Hoosiers wake up and see what is happening here before the deal is done.

A few interesting articles from across the state.

Major Moves INDOT Website

Major Moves Funding Options

I find it interesting that INDOT highlights 10 year revenue projections when in fact these would actually be 75 year revenue projections. Paints a bit of a different picture if you ask me.

$3.85B deal may drive a road-building boom - Indystar.com

"Today marks an extraordinary moment in state history," Daniels said at a Statehouse news conference. "A breakthrough like this may come but once in a public service lifetime."

Very true Mitch. By striking a 75 year deal, you prevent another deal during my lifetime.

Possible big jump in tolls upsets motorists - Indystar.com

Residents of Northern Indiana say plan isn't fair to their communities

"They're going to almost triple the tolls for trucks in three years -- that's ridiculous," said Bromley, 61, as he rang up a customer at the Junction City Restaurant. "There's no way I'd pay $32 to drive that highway when I was haulin', and I know a lot of boys who have said this would just drive them to start takin' the back roads."

Hmmm... tolls would triple in 3 years... Sounds to me like the consortium is going to make back their investment as quickly as possible. But the scary part is the last sentence. If tolls get too high it will drive traffic to side roads... and who will pay for that infrastructure? The local governments will. Hmmm... I wonder what the local governments are saying?

In Hammond, Mayor Thomas McDermott called Major Moves unfair to Northern Indiana. "To me," he said, "it seems as though the northern third of the state will be paying for infrastructure projects for the entire state."

Bingo... and in the end the northern third of the state will also have to pay for the increased traffic on their own local infrastructure.

Samantha Chandler isn't worried about the tolls. She's worried about her job.

For eight years, she's worked as a toll attendant at the Portage Toll Plaza, making $11.75 an hour. If the duo of Spanish and Australian firms takes control of the toll road, Chandler said she'd likely be out of a job. "They told us that the new group would interview us, but the jobs would be part time with no benefits," said Chandler, 33. "The governor talks about all the construction jobs that are going to be created because of all the new roads, but what about my job?

Hey Mitch, those part time, no benefit jobs really help our residents and our overall economy.

SouthBend Tribune Toll Road Lease message board

One of the best posts...

3.8 billion for 75 years.... quick math shows us that is 50.6 million dollars per year... at a discount rate of 4 percent... what does that last year cost? 2.6 million dollars present value.

Chicago sold the skyway, and what happened the next day? the company jacked up the rates. WHY? because they are in it to make a profit. They do not love us. They aren't doing this because they care so much about the people of indiana and america that they want to provide us with safe roads at a reasonable cost.

The austrain economist Ludwig Von Mises said that burning the furniture may heat the house, but you shouldn't fool your self into thinking that you have discovered a new form of heat.

Eating the seed corn is another term indiana farmers might identify with. Mighty tastey going down, but leaves you wondering what to plant in the spring.

So what are we to do when surrounded by short term thinking globalists who would prefer to sell your assets to foreign entities for immediate gain?

One thing- form an immediate coalition- Republican, Democrats, Conservatives, Centrists, etc dedicated to turning out of office anyone who votes for this idiocy.

my suggestion for a name would be CASH - CITIZENS AGAINST SELLING HIGHWAYS

Well Said!

Dems offer $1.6B road plan - Indystar.com

“House Democrats agree with our governor that the infrastructure projects contained in Major Moves will be a key element in the future economic growth of Indiana,” Bauer said. “However, we believe there are funding alternatives that will allow the state to make wiser use of revenues and stop this administration’s policy of selling off our state’s assets.”

Great... now this is going to be labeled a partisan issue. If you are a Republican, you must favor the lease. If you are a Democrat, you must favor a bond issue. Maybe I'm just more interested in Indiana's long term future. Unlike Mitch who will move out of the state when his term is over.

Indiana House Democrats Unveil Major Moves Alternative - InsideIndianaBusiness.com

Under the governor's plan, all revenue generated by the toll increases announced by the administration would be turned over to the foreign investors, Bauer said. It would take just over 17 years for those toll increases to generate the $3.8 billion that the investors are paying to gain control of the toll road. Under the terms of a 75-year lease proposed by the administration, every nickel generated by those toll increases over nearly 58 years would go into the pockets of foreign investors. That means about $21 billion in profit will be leaving Indiana.

I sense a fight coming on. Thankfully!!!