The re-emergence of Sonia Pitt

by: Jeremy Kalin

Thu Jul 31, 2008 at 15:33:07 PM CDT

Unfortunately, I also heard bad news that day. A whistleblower told me that MnDOT did not have the appropriate person on the job. A few weeks later, we learned that Sonia Pitt, the director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management at MnDOT, had failed to return home after the bridge collapse - for TEN DAYS.

More after the fold...

Pawlenty doesn't get a free pass on McCain's I-35 comment

by: Joe Bodell

Thu May 01, 2008 at 17:20:35 PM CDT

"The bridge in Minneapolis didn't collapse because there wasn't enough money. The bridge in Minneapolis collapsed because so much money was spent on wasteful, unnecessary pork-barrel projects."

"I don't know what he's basing that on, other than the general premise that projects got misprioritized throughout time."

The idea of the "misstatement" in American politics is an incredible creature. Politicians can lie and get away with it by calling it a misstatement, or in this case, a presidential contender makes ridiculous and factually false claims and clarify later, the damage having been done in the messaging war.

Misstatements. Lies. Who's keeping track anymore?

Governor Pawlenty, you endorsed John McCain because of his views on important issues, his stand on earmark spending among them. If his view is that a decrease in or elimination of earmark spending would have indirectly prevented the I-35 bridge collapse, which killed thirteen Minnesotan citizens, how do you, Mr. Governor, get off the hook by letting it go at "that's his view"?

Just as Sen. McCain has been forced to publicly repudiate the views of the extremist pastor John Hagee, what is called for here is more than "that's his view." What is called for is some of the chutzpah you showed when you vetoed the Central Corridor rail project only to re-propose it a short time later. In short, sir, kindly stand up to your crazy old political uncle and tell him flat-out that he is dead wrong. Demand on behalf of the State of Minnesota an apology for the behavior you once decried as "exploiting the bridge tragedy to advance [a] political agenda."

Otherwise, you're just a McCain flunky like the rest of them.

For right or very, very wrong, John McCain's views are the reason you, Governor Pawlenty, have supported him so strongly in that endeavor for so long. You don't get to simply say "that's what he believes" and let it go -- if he is wrong, it is up to you to stand up and tell him so, because quite clearly, no one else can or will.

John McCain is running for President of the United States, and you, Tim Pawlenty, don't get off that easily.

Oberstar announces comprehensive national bridge plan

by: Tom Elko

Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 13:04:13 PM CDT

The Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar, introduce a National Bridge Plan and announced that addressing the issue would be his first order of business when Congress returns from its August recess.

"One week ago, a routine commute after a day of work, school, or shopping turned to horror, shock, and tears," Oberstar said. "Today, as the recovery effort continues, we ask ourselves if such a tragic failure can happen elsewhere. How many structurally deficient bridges are out there? How many more collapses are waiting to happen?"

The recent collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis has drawn unprecedented attention to the nation's infrastructure and the over 75,000 bridges that have been rated as "structurally deficient" and the over 80,000 that have been rated as "functionally obsolete" by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Oberstar attributed the vast number of bridges in need of repair, rehabilitation, or replacement on a "tombstone mentality" in the federal government and in the states.

"We react to tragedy, when lives are lost, but we fail to take preemptive action that could prevent these tragic events," Oberstar said.

According to a press release from Oberstar's office, the initiative has four main components:

- Significantly improving bridge inspection requirements.
- Providing dedicated funding.
- Distributing funds based on public safety and need, prohibiting Congressional and Administration earmarks.
- Establishing a trust fund, modeled after the Highway Trust Fund, to provide a dedicated source of revenue for the repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of structurally deficient bridges.

The bill would apply only to bridges that are part of the National Highway System, which covers only 4.1% of all roads but carries 45% of all traffic. Of the over 75,871 bridges designated as "structurally deficient," 6,175 are part of the NHS.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Minnesota 1,140 bridges are listed as "structurally deficient" and 446 are "functionally obsolete.