Liberal Talk Radio

Paralyzed by the fear of making a decision, the Guv kicks the can down the road:

Gov. Christine Gregoire this morning called for a public vote on the Alaskan Way Viaduct to break the political stalemate between an affordable elevated structure and a tunnel that is still financially shaky.

The vote should occur by April within Seattle only. Seattle residents and the city government would be legally responsible to come up with the additional $1.8 billion of expected tunnel cost over what’s available from current gas taxes and federal grants — if city voters approve the tunnel.

But the real kicker is the explanation:

“We are at a political stalemate and must find a path forward to replace the viaduct,” Gregoire said in a statement. “I don’t believe that, without a vote, either option will move forward. We need to hear directly from the people for whom this decision has the most impact.“

So… would that be only Seattle residents under, say, 20 years old? After all, they’re the only ones alive who are actually going to commute on the damn thing.

Seriously, though, the problems with public votes on these things are numerous. First, for the vote to have any meaning, you have to identify a funding source. How are you going to pay for it? Otherwise it’s just a pony vote: everyone wants a pony! So you identify a revenue source, like a sales tax or an MVET. And then, when the costs go up (as they always do), or the revenue is less than you figured, you’re screwed. You can’t raid another kitty to pay for it, because you promised the voters that you’d pay for it with the funding source approved in the vote. (c.f.: Seattle Monorail Authority).

No more votes. Just build something.