Private toll toad deal contains 'absolution clause.'
Daniels: Chocola ( State Rep.) not involved in Toll Road lease
I think it’s really unfair’ to make road pact issue in 2nd District race, governor says.
Sep 20, 2006
By JAMES WENSITS
South Bend Tribune
Copyright 2006
SOUTH BEND — Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who stopped here Tuesday, exempted U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola, R-2nd, from any responsibility for the leasing of the Indiana Toll Road, saying the congressman played no role in the decision.
Daniels, who was responding to a reporter’s question, acknowledged his awareness that the Toll Road decision has popped up in polls as an issue in the congressional campaign between Chocola and Democratic challenger Joe Donnelly.
“I think it’s really unfair,” Daniels said of the situation, adding that “they can blame it on me” if people think $4 billion of new roads and jobs without a penny of tax dollars or passenger car toll increase is a bad idea.
“Chris Chocola had nothing to do with it.”
The governor, who was in town to address the opening session of the Association of Indiana Counties at the Century Center, also took a playful poke at State Rep. B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, in response to Bauer’s earlier comment about the Toll Road lease revenue being “tainted” money.“For once in his life, Pat Bauer was right about something,” Daniels told the AIC crowd. “T’ain’t a penny of tax increase in there anywhere. T’ain’t a penny of passenger toll increase in there. T’ain’t money we’d ever have gotten any other way.”
At a news conference following his address, Daniels said he was just responding to Bauer’s comments, “I hope in good humor.”
Bauer, who once accused Daniels of “impersonating a Hoosier” during the last election, said Daniels “was trying to resume his role in the election when he played being a southern Indiana boy.”
The South Bend Democrat, who has been a staunch foe of the Toll Road lease, said the administration knows “there’s a real problem” in the lease agreement and noted that the legislation included an absolution clause.
“Absolution is what you get when you confess your sins,” Bauer said. “Therefore, they did something wrong, and the only penance will be paid by the people of Indiana when they pay constantly increasing tolls and see that money go overseas.” Bauer also disputed Daniels’ claim that the Toll Road was a financial loser.
“It never lost money,” said the legislator, citing the road’s $18.4 million in net income in fiscal year 2004 and $11.7 million in fiscal year 2005. “It wasn’t meant to be a cash cow.”
Staff writer James Wensits: jwensits@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6353
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060920/News01/609200330
I think it’s really unfair’ to make road pact issue in 2nd District race, governor says.
Sep 20, 2006
By JAMES WENSITS
South Bend Tribune
Copyright 2006
SOUTH BEND — Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who stopped here Tuesday, exempted U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola, R-2nd, from any responsibility for the leasing of the Indiana Toll Road, saying the congressman played no role in the decision.
Daniels, who was responding to a reporter’s question, acknowledged his awareness that the Toll Road decision has popped up in polls as an issue in the congressional campaign between Chocola and Democratic challenger Joe Donnelly.
“I think it’s really unfair,” Daniels said of the situation, adding that “they can blame it on me” if people think $4 billion of new roads and jobs without a penny of tax dollars or passenger car toll increase is a bad idea.
“Chris Chocola had nothing to do with it.”
The governor, who was in town to address the opening session of the Association of Indiana Counties at the Century Center, also took a playful poke at State Rep. B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, in response to Bauer’s earlier comment about the Toll Road lease revenue being “tainted” money.“For once in his life, Pat Bauer was right about something,” Daniels told the AIC crowd. “T’ain’t a penny of tax increase in there anywhere. T’ain’t a penny of passenger toll increase in there. T’ain’t money we’d ever have gotten any other way.”
At a news conference following his address, Daniels said he was just responding to Bauer’s comments, “I hope in good humor.”
Bauer, who once accused Daniels of “impersonating a Hoosier” during the last election, said Daniels “was trying to resume his role in the election when he played being a southern Indiana boy.”
The South Bend Democrat, who has been a staunch foe of the Toll Road lease, said the administration knows “there’s a real problem” in the lease agreement and noted that the legislation included an absolution clause.
“Absolution is what you get when you confess your sins,” Bauer said. “Therefore, they did something wrong, and the only penance will be paid by the people of Indiana when they pay constantly increasing tolls and see that money go overseas.” Bauer also disputed Daniels’ claim that the Toll Road was a financial loser.
“It never lost money,” said the legislator, citing the road’s $18.4 million in net income in fiscal year 2004 and $11.7 million in fiscal year 2005. “It wasn’t meant to be a cash cow.”
Staff writer James Wensits: jwensits@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6353
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060920/News01/609200330
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Wednesday, September 20, 2006
<< Home