19 Comments
User's avatar
Gigi's avatar

Since when is a ballroom equated with security?

Ben - MD, VA, NE Florida.'s avatar

I got measles, mumps and chicken pox back when most kids were allowed to get them. Fortunately, I did fine. Then vaccines entered the picture, and most of us didn't look back. Kennedy Jr. Is a cookwad aberration, and he will cause many more needless deaths. Sad, And stupid.

jpg's avatar
1hEdited

Happened to be near a Costco with gasoline and thought I’d save a few cents/gallon. 2pm on a Tuesday, and the lines to fill up were crazy! I hardly hesitated and headed home. I’ll pay the extra 5-10¢ to not sit in a 30 min line.

Jon Brandt's avatar

Eliminating the federal gas tax is a stupid idea that would barely make a dent in individual gas purchases (a 4% reduction on the current $4.50/gal price) while blowing a hole in revenues for federal road building and repairs. The juice ain't worth the squeeze.

Oldandintheway's avatar

They ar already paying millions to alternative energy project NOT to build wind or solar energy projects. Trump is bored with the war, he forgot about immigrants, and his tariffs are illegal. His three concerns are the ballroom, the fake wrestling match on July 4th, and also how to destroy the midterm voting. But, mostly, it's the ballroom. (Read his overnight posts, the man is nuts).

J AZ's avatar

Old - you left out ‘keeping the Epstein files locked away’ but it seems we’re mostly forgetting by now

Steve's avatar

Steve Daines....."the best way.....bring the Iran conflict to an end...." Sure, the easy walk-over war that Trump started after being flattered out the wahzoo by Bibi. Trump wants out, but can't find a way that makes himself look good. Even Fox News and Newsmax can't cover for Trump's cluster....."

J AZ's avatar

Daines’ advice approaching the brilliance of “just say no, kids” 🤦‍♂️

The Blockhead Chronicles's avatar

Collins is probably asking for cover so she can vote No. Otherwise she’d do it in a heartbeat.

J AZ's avatar

Collins: “it’s supposed to be paid for by private donations… That’s what the president has said.” Well we all know we can rely on his trustworthy nature, amirite? C’mon Susan, at least toss us an “I’m concerned”

Luc Hatlestad's avatar

Forcing them to "go on the record" about anything is a toothless, meaningless cousin to "history will remember". They. Don't. Care.

Charlie's avatar

Right $0.18 vs $7 a gallon is like farting in the wind. Worthless.

Barbara Didrichsen's avatar

I'm not advocating for a repeal of the national transportation tax, but I do agree with Lee on half of his point: the interstate system has been completed. We don't need more highways. We need to rethink the process of how we allocate federal funding, and what we fund.

One of the best posts on this topic I've seen comes from Chuck Marohn of Strong Towns: https://clmarohn.substack.com/p/weve-been-fighting-the-wrong-transportation

J AZ's avatar

Barbara - I promise to read the article after I say that the Highway Trust Fund pays for maintenance & repairs as well as construction. Many states can’t provide local funds to cover all such expenses. Interstate travel is worthy of federal funding for commerce & national security as well as more mundane personal travel even if not one more mile were ever to be built

Steve's avatar

The Federal Highway Administration also runs the Recreational Trails Program which is a refund of gas tax to the states. A lot of these funds go to construction and maintenance of sustainable trails.

Out here in the West, outdoor trails got pounded by people wanting to get outside during COVID. Unfortunately, DOGE determined that the major federal land management agencies were "over-staffed" and gutted those agencies. State and local governments can't cover for the losses.

Tim_TEC's avatar

Here's a thought for these MAGA Republicans. They can make up for the lost revenue from the so-called Gas Tax Holiday by making the Big Oil conglomerates pay for it with a Windfall Tax.

Of course the MAGAs would never dream of doing such a thing, so they'll let the roads crumble and bridges collapse because of the lack of funding.

Leros's avatar

The shamelessness Mike Lee exhibits is truly incredible. I can't wait to see how the red states are going to fund maintaining the portions of the interstate highways in their states. Raise taxes on the good people of said red state. No way! Cut what little is left of Medicaid and use that $ instead? Of course!

Steve's avatar

Lee also is a leading architect of getting rid of the federal public lands. Funny thing is that he is way out of step with what his Utah constituents want, according to the annual State of the Rockies/West polling done by Colorado College.

Mary Susan Hunter's avatar

It would be interesting to know if Red states or Blue states have more roads to keep up. I wonder if anyone has done an analysis of this. Might be a good deal for the Blue states. Not sure.