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Ericksen: 'Proposition 1 a colossal failure, shows
no leadership'
Rep. Doug Ericksen,
R-Ferndale, believes a severe lack of leadership from Olympia is why the
state has failed to address the transportation crisis.
"To make meaningful
progress and address issues as crucial as transportation, you need
political will, regulatory and permitting practices that allow projects
to be completed and you need funding," explains Ericksen. "The
governor's office struck out on the first two and the people of
Washington rejected a dramatic increase in taxes to fund the $47 billion
measure."
In a 56 percent to 44 percent vote, Puget Sound voters rejected higher sales taxes and car
tab fees to fund light rail expansions and road improvements.
"The governor hit the
wallets of Washingtonians earlier with an increase in the gas tax, and
it is clear costs associated with Proposition 1 were just too high for
taxpayers," adds Ericksen. "What we need in Olympia is decisive
leadership that focuses on providing services for the best price, not a
perpetuating cycle of indecisive bureaucracy."
"Her indecisiveness keeps
new programs from moving forward and causes current projects to take far
too long and run over budget. Priority projects like the Alaska Way
Viaduct, SR 520 Bridge, the Columbia River Crossing and Highway 2 are
poorly managed and underfunded."
According to the Texas
Transportation Institute, Washington citizens spent 74 million hours
stuck in traffic in 2005, and congestion is only getting worse.
Ericksen will outline
solutions that will help address the transportation crisis this Thursday
at the 2007 Statewide Small Business Conference, where he is a member of
the transportation panel.
Ericksen is a member of
the House Transportation Committee and serves as deputy leader of
the House Republican Caucus.
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For more information, contact:
Mike Deising, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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