by Paul Jacob

After the collapse of Minnesota's Interstate 35W bridge, Governor Tim Pawlenty relented on his opposition to increasing gas taxes to pay for infrastructure.

But what was interesting was not the I-told-you-so crowing from Minnesota's tax-increase warriors, but what the New York Times did with the story. It emphasized spending priorities.

The amount spent wasn't the problem in Minnesota. Where it was spent was. As the Times put it, "Despite historic highs in transportation spending, the political muscle of lawmakers, rather than dire need, has typically driven where much of the money goes."

Minnesota Representative James Oberstar chairs the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and he recently boasted about "Minnesota's share" of a recent transportation spending bill. Twelve million dollars is a lot, but the hugest hunk of it went to a 40-mile commuter rail line that few people will use. The remaining $2 million? "Divided among a new bike and walking path and a few other projects."

What the Times suggested I'll baldly state: Unless we're going to privatize the roads, the highest priority of government transportation departments should be to keep existing roads and bridges in good repair. After that, build new infrastructure, but make it transportation most folks will actually use.

Not bike trails and rail lines and politically correct transportation.

It's a matter of meeting people's needs, not politicians'.

Paul Jacob's "Common Sense" is published by the Sam Adams Alliance. Their website can be visited at www.samadamsalliance.org.