The death of Tri-Rail?
We tried to give it a permanent source of funding with a $2 tax on rental cars.
Yes, Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, the three serviced by Tri-Rail, were willing to tax themselves. Well, they were willing to tax tourists who came and rented cars, but it's a small point.
The Republican-dominated legislature, which had to approve the self-taxation, felt we needed to be rescued from our own folly, and refused to sign off on the plan. Why? The old anti-tax philosophy. What happened to government staying out of the people's business? I thought that was Republican philosophy, too.
Then Tri-Rail got caught up in some petty tit-for-tat ego battle between pols over a similar system in Central Florida. We don't get ours, then you won't get yours.
It's all very childish. Remember that as you creep down I-95 past those lovely abandoned stations.
CHAN LOWE has been the Sun Sentinel’s first and only editorial cartoonist for the past twenty-six years. Before that, he worked as cartoonist and writer for the Oklahoma City Times and the Shawnee (OK) News-Star.
Comments
There got to be something to do to keep the "Train on the tracks"
How can the pub's in Talle'
sit there and watch all the people who depend on this type of transportation be taken hostage by elements out of their own control. Some have jobs to get to and no vehicles to get them there, others have used the train to save on gas and promote another alternative way of car pooling. What about the employees, their jobs and families?
If they wont allow the grant money at least give them the rental car tax.
Posted by: Robert (Defender) | May 7, 2009 7:47 AM
By the way nice work Chan.
Posted by: Defender | May 7, 2009 7:48 AM
If *WE THE PEOPLE* need to be *rescued* FROM our own folly by the FL Legislature, then WHO will rescue us from THEM, eh?!
Posted by: Steve | May 7, 2009 9:39 AM