Rossi Pandering to those who Least Like Him

Gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi is all over the map in his transportation ideas. I can't imagine he is going to win many votes even with a big show of pomp and circumstance. In the GOP manner, we will delete one tax and get the money from somewhere else. Nearly half of that in the form of $7.7 billon from new and used vehicle sales tax over 30 years. He would rather see the Alaskan Way tunnel idea resurface, something both local voters and engineers have soundly dismissed.

Of course he panders to those with an eye on the environmental and energy future with tax breaks on “green” cars, and a redesign of culverts to assist with the migration of salmon.

It sure must sound good to those that least supported Rossi in his last election bid four years ago; those whose top concerns in life are the congestion of urban thoroughfares and the environment in their neighboring playground. At the same time, he may have alienated himself from his most supportive base, the rural population who watch most of their tax dollars spent on infrastructure in urban areas.

Clearly the most bothersome comments came when Rossi accused the Democrats, of diverting people away from their cars. It seems like more selfish thought and talk in a time when all the discussion should be about public transportation and weaning people away from their vehicles. As we approach $4.50 to $5.00 for a gallon in gas, perhaps a little forward thinking is what is needed. Rossi is only proposing a band-aid on a hemorrhaging vein.