More on the gas tax issue

Elected leaders from Huntsville, Madison County press for more state highway dollars, a story about the Madison County commissioners’ willingness to work with others. “We will publicize the names of governor candidates who commit to treat Madison County fairly, and those that do not,“ Commissioner Mo Brooks said.

Ah, cooperation.

Fuming over gas tax funding, a Sept. 20 editorial from the Huntsville Times exploring some of the potential problems that lurk in reality for the panacaeic gas-tax funding solution. The takeaway: “What seems like a simple solution is not so cut and dried ... City and county leaders should hone their lobbying skills and work more closely with the legislative delegation and the next governor to obtain road money based on need and not a formula. Together, they can build Madison County’s transportation network into a road system this growing area deserves.“

What’s that I hear? It sounds like the makings of good public policy!! Quick, get the candidates while I run this editorial off on letter-size paper. We’ll tell them to sign it and threaten them with embarrassment if they don’t.

What? That approach was good enough for Madison County commissioners ... and it worked.

GOP candidate Bradley Byrne likes Madison County’s 80 percent rule, too, so he’s going to go there—tomorrow, actually—to sign the gas-tax pledge in a nice outdoor ceremony. I’m reminded of something my mom said on a regular basis: “If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump, too?“ What Mom was getting at is that you can’t judge the validity of an idea by the number of people on its bandwagon. Groupthink—especially groupthink punctuated by political opportunism, pandering and one-upsmanship—is an ugly phenomenon.

GOP’s Johnson promises area more gas tax money, the story about Johnson signing the pledge. Yes, he was the first candidate to sign on to this short-sighted idea. A chicken in every pot!! Nah ... just the pots he picks.

And I have a question. If Madison County is, as Huntsville City Councilman Bill Kling said, “just asking to be treated fairly,“ then why make the 80 percent rule 80 percent? Why not demand the full return of gas tax revenues collected in Madison County—100 percent—from the state?

It’s only “fair,“ right?