Advertisement
Let’s try.
Rep. Tim Walz, studies are wonderful and we appreciate all your hard work, but next time, could you just send money?
First District Congressman Tim Walz was the chief author of a key amendment to a bridge bill that would increase the funding for America’s sagging infrastructure, including bridges. Most folks remember the Winona Interstate Bridge was closed for more than two weeks in June after a Minnesota Department of Transportation study found severely corroded gusset plates.
Walz authored an amendment to the bill that would require the secretary of transportation to report to Congress whether a federal aid bridge, like the Highway 43 bridge — was closed because of a critical inspection finding.
And, to Walz’s credit, he came down, toured the bridge and even brought the House chairman of the transportation committee to Winona.
It’s a great step toward accountability and federal oversight, but it doesn’t necessarily address the key point that was driven home during the June closure: Our infrastructure is falling apart.
We need reports, but we need roads more.
Walz’s amendment is good, but if we really fund infrastructure and transportation like we should, the amendment would be useless. We shouldn’t need a codicil in the funding bill that requires a cabinet-level report every time a bridge or road falls apart. We shouldn’t need a report because we shouldn’t let our roads and bridges suffer from that kind of neglect — not only because our nation’s economy depends on it, but because of the safety factor.
We applaud Walz for making it tough for the federal government to duck its share of responsibility for the roads and bridges. In this case, though, money speaks louder than words.
If the government really wants to show it’s serious about roads and bridges, it needs actions that speak louder than words, especially if those words were buried in some thick government report.
Whether we’re talking about Minnesota or the nation, we are the beneficiaries of those who sacrificed to build things like the interstates, highways, power grids and bridges. Not glamorous — until they fail. Those key infrastructure items weren’t just seen in terms of tax dollars, they were a matter of public good.
The question really isn’t why our roads or bridges are falling down, the question is how soon can we put them back together?
Now there’s a report we’d like to see.
By Darrell Ehrlick, editor, on behalf of the Winona Daily News editorial board, which also includes publisher Rusty Cunningham and online editor Jerome Christenson. To comment, call 453-3507 or e-mail letters@winonadaily news.com.
|
More News: |
