OpEdNews
Original Content at
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_kathlyn__070802_gov__pawlenty_can_t_.htm--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 2, 2007
Gov. Pawlenty can't dodge ownership in bridge collapse
By Kathlyn Stone
Six years ago independent engineers at the University of Minnesota warned that the I-35 bridge had “evidence of fatigue on the main truss and floor trusses and said the bridge might collapse if part of the truss gave way under the eight-lane freeway.”
In a brazen CYA move last night, Gov. Pawlenty (Bush Republican) said 2005 and 2006 bridge studies indicated there were "no structural deficits" in the I-35 bridge.
But today the president's spokesperson said the report actually said there were structural deficits. A 2005 federal inspection rated the bridge 50 on a scale of 120 for structural stability, and the Bush administration said it was up to state officials to take corrective action.
The Minnesota Legislature attempted to take corrective action by passing transportation funding bills, but Pawlenty vetoed them.
In a followup CYA move Thursday morning, after being cast aside by Team Bush like a used-up trollup, Gov. Tim Pawlenty orders inspection of all state bridges. Sure, make it look as if you suddenly care about public safety. A new round of inspections (by more political appointees or privatized and outsourced, one should presume) does not deflect the fact that four people are reported dead (so far), the bodies of passengers in 20 cars are now resting in the Mississippi or trapped beneath twisted metal, and 79 are injured from yesterday’s collapse.....How do you like them apples, Pawlenty? You pledged to follow the Bush-Cheney playbook to a "T" – forsaking Minnesotans’ interest -- and now you are left holding the bag all on your own. Every Minnesotan knows (or should be aware) that the MNDOT, the League of Minnesota Cities, bi-partisan legislative and citizens groups and the state's largest businesses have been begging for transportation funding, including attention to problem bridges, for years. Citizens even passed a constitutional amendment last fall because of your stubborn refusal to deal with the transportation budget crisis.
Pawlenty twice vetoed a bi-partisan bill to increase the gas tax to pay for the state’s transportation infrastructure needs and took no steps to heed numerous warnings.
Authors Website: www.kathystone.squarespace.com
Authors Bio: Kathlyn Stone is a Twin Cities, Minnesota-based writer covering science, health policy, the economy and international relations.
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