Aren't you guys forgetting something? Like the road and bridge builders, for instance?
I found the following comment from a DOT staffer who posted to the Madison.com Forum Re: Wis. State Journal editorial "Money Runs Short for State Highways", published October 11, 2004. Nothing new, but still interesting since it's so blunt. (You can read my comment off the Forum if you wish to as well. It's on the state's 20-year highway planning process.) Mike DOT staffer: "As a 25 year employee of the DOT I feel I have little sympathy for the road builders warning. The DOT's financial shape is the result of the roadbuilders influence in the Department. They call the shots in the DOT and the halls of the Capitol on the highway program. Couple that with the stranglehold the engineering consultant Industry has on the delivery program with 3565 contracts covering nearly $407,000,000 it is clear to me who's fault it is in my opinion. When the DOT labeled the roadbuilders and the consultants as "customers".I thought we were in big trouble. We have been told that the consultants are more expensive but they are forced to hire consultants because of the flawed perception that State employyees are bad.To be elected in this State you must attack the only people in State government who ask the question "How much is this all costing"? And for trying to be the last of the people that think we still work for the taxpayers, we are rewarded with daily rumors of the massive cuts Doyle plans on us. If State government was forced to use the solutions the front line staff offer daily because we do the work and see what is happening the taxpayers would dance in the streets!" http://www.madison.com/post/forum/viewtopic.php?t=359 ----------- Original Bikies Message ------------- From: Schimpff, Jeff A Subject: [Bikies] VOTE state & national for the big transport bucks Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 14:39:37 -0700 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Local elections are important for the reasons Paul states, but it's important to keep in mind that a huge proportion of funding spent locally for biking & transit, as well as for city-wrecking roadways, is authorized by our state and federal representatives. Many good and bad things would not happen locally if they weren't funded, or in cases like Marquette Interchange and Verona Road, dictated, at the state and federal levels. The outcome of next week's election is absolutely critical to our interests. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Paul T. O'Leary Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 4:01 PM To: Robbie Webber; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Bikies] VOTE! I've said this before about federal vs. local elections (and I'll withhold my personal take on this election), but as important as this election is, the REAL impact on alt-trans-friendly living is via local elections in the spring. I'm an election official (buzzphrase for "poll worker"), and it astonishes me how lathered up people get about an election like this one, but we can't get anywhere near this turnout if we all marched around the polling places in ball gowns and high heels (never mind...). But it's at this level, I contend, where your vote matters most. First, the more "immediate" decisions are made at the city and county (read: Common Council and Board of Supervisors) level. Second, until the above-mentioned trend changes, your vote, proportionally, counts for a LOT more in a local election. Finally, local elected officials are people you can actually find and talk to, without going through (or being stopped amidst) several layers of "staff". Who knows; you might even get one of those squeaky-wheel neon-wearing greasy-pantlegged "bikers" elected to public office :) . ________________________________________________________________ Speed up your surfing with Juno SpeedBand. Now includes pop-up blocker! Only $14.95/ month - visit http://www.juno.com/surf to sign up today! _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
