Politicians Offering the Same “Stale Solutions”
In an op-ed in Friday’s DC Examiner, Melanie Scarborough tells Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va) that he should be looking to reform management of the Metro system before asking America’s taxpayers for a bailout. Davis managed to get a $1.5 billion “bailout” bill though the U.S. House of Representatives that also requires matching money from the localities, which Metro serves.
Scarborough explains, “Both proposals are way off-track. For starters, dedicated funding is almost always a bad idea. Guaranteed revenue eliminates the need for government agencies to justify their budgets. Metro should have to compete with other entities for tax money, to make the case for each dollar it is given. Add to that the fundamental unfairness of federal dollars subsidizing local transportation. Why should taxpayers in Peoria help pay for the commute of Washington-area residents? More precisely, why should they contribute more than they already do? Many government agencies offer employee subsidies for Metro, which is money from federal taxpayers.” Her questions about Metro spending will get you even more upset.
Makes you wonder just what do the political hacks on the Metro board do. And why doesn’t the Arlington County Board’s representative ever talk about the accomplishments of the Metro board? Make Metro a lean, mean transit machine, and then explain to the taxpayers why it needs more money. Show us that it's the low-cost provider of public transportation, and maybe, just maybe, taxpayers might reach into their own pockets.