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A few other constitutional amendments are in position to go forward.

Like a push to create a “lock box” for transportation funding, so dollars can’t be diverted to other purposes; that already got out of the House and Tuesday advanced from a Senate committee.

* This proposal has received almost no publicity, but it’s been moving very fast. The measure is backed by the road builders and the unions…

Adds a new Section concerning highway funds. Provides that no moneys derived from taxes, fees, excises, or license taxes, relating to registration, titles, operation, or use of vehicles or public highways, roads, streets, bridges, mass transit, intercity passenger rail, ports, or airports, or motor fuels, including bond proceeds, shall be expended for other than costs of administering laws related to vehicles and transportation, costs for construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, and betterment of public highways, roads, streets, bridges, mass transit, intercity passenger rail, ports, airports, or other forms of transportation, and other statutory highway purposes, including the State or local share to match federal aid highway funds.

This sounds like a good idea, but it’ll lock up that money even in dire financial times.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 12:42 pm

Comments

All I can think about is the SNL skit about the Bush/Gore debate. “Lockbox”…still cracks me up.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 12:45 pm
More stupidity. Constitutions have no business in guaranteeing funding for anything.

Comment by Tone Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 12:48 pm
” dire financial times.”

Mostly self inflicted!

Comment by WhoKnew Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 12:51 pm
They should have a Lock Box on all funds that are enacted to make sure they are used specifically for their intended purpose.

Comment by BBG Watch Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 12:52 pm
===More stupidity. Constitutions have no business in guaranteeing funding for anything.===

Your comments continually remind me how smart in 1970 those framers were to guarantee what they have.

They saw “you” coming 40+ years ago…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 1:09 pm
Gas taxes and registration fees are user fees. The General Assembly cannot be trusted to respect that. This Amendment respects those who pay to use transportation, and imposes a modicum of discipline on spendthrift legislators.

Comment by Emanuel Can't Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 1:18 pm
Some hard limits are necessary to prevent unwise legislatures from doing dumb/bad things. Unfortunately, sometimes those hard limits simply inspire unwise legislatures to do even dumber/worse alternative things instead.

Comment by titan Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 1:24 pm
classic case of powerful interests putting themselves at the head of the line. never wise to tie one hands in the face of possible changing conditions. is unwise, even considering how corrupt and incompetent the legislature is.

Comment by jim Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 1:50 pm
Okay, I am prejudiced; nonetheless, a lot of the public agrees with “Emanuel Can’t” and me: we’ll complain about paying taxes in general, but most of us really don’t mind paying “user fees” if they are used where they are supposed to be used.

Comment by downstate commissioner Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 1:55 pm
WOW..
I was missing the “lock box” meme….so good to hear it again. Been to DC several times since 2000 still haven’t found where they put it.

Comment by Mr. Smith Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 1:55 pm
It’s worth remembering that during the 2014 campaign, our esteemed governor cited Kansas’ Sam Brownback among his role models, and then upon taking office hired Donna Arduin as a $120K-for-4 months consultant. (Supply-side economics, indeed.)

In the same vein, it’s also worth noting that Kansas’ transportation funds have been strip-mined to cover the budget deficits that Sam Brownback and that state’s legislative Republicans created.

Perhaps a transportation fund “lockbox” isn’t such a bad idea even — especially — in dire financial times.

Comment by Northsider Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 2:06 pm
Okay, but can my fishing/hunting/boating license fees be reserved for conservation?

Comment by Casual observer Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 2:21 pm
Oh, the old “lock box” play. Been around since the hidden ball trick.

Comment by walker Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 2:56 pm
Can anyone tell me what these “diversions” were? I’d put forward the position that a Secretary of State employee who does nothing but process license plate stickers / renewals should be paid from license plate fees, or that a State Trooper that patrols the freeways should be paid from driver’s license / license plate fees or gas taxes.

Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, May 4, 16 @ 4:38 pm