2008 Senate Bill 7 (Setting up local public project authorities to fund roads and bridges)

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Introduced by Sen. David L. Williams (R) on January 8, 2008, to expand the bureaucracy relating to construction of public facility projects by giving bonding authority to new "public infrastructure authorities." The purpose of these authorities will be to operate similarly to the Department of Highways with regard to building and maintaining roads and bridges, but on the local level. The bill describes how members will be appointed to the authorities and allows them to place, collect, and distribute tolls.
- Referred to the Senate Transportation Committee on January 8, 2008.
- Amendment offered by Sen. Tim Shaughnessy (D) on February 4, 2008, to set membership of an authority at eight members, four appointed by governor and four appointed by the local chief executive. The amendment also requires six members to be present to take a vote and requires six votes for authority action. The amendment also requires rotation of the chair and vice chair positions annually between local and gubernatorial appointees.
- Amendment offered by Sen. Tim Shaughnessy (D) on February 4, 2008, to Allow infrastructure authorities tolling authority only on new construction and require removal of tolls within 30 days of the bonds being retired.
- Amendment offered by Sen. Tim Shaughnessy (D) on February 4, 2008, to require infrastructure authorities to lease facilities back to the state and require audits by the Auditor of Public Accounts.
- Amendment offered by Sen. Tim Shaughnessy (D) on February 4, 2008, to require the Transportation Cabinet and the Department of Revenue to jointly study the current structure of the road fund and its ability to meet transportation funding needs. The amendment requires them to report findings to the legislature by the end of the year.

Most Recent Comments

1) Senate Bill 7 [by Anonymous Citizen on February 16, 2008]
Norman Davis is exactly right. Voters find it disgusting that many of Northern Kentucky's local leaders and legislators in Frankfort are pushing the Brent Spence toll. This week we saw President Bush and Congressional leaders in photo ops as the new bill to stimulate our economy was signed. Now if Congress can quickly find $168 Billion for an Economic Stimulus Act, then why can't they find a couple more Billion dollars for our new bridge?
One of the few legitimate uses of our Federal tax dollars is for roads and bridges.
Instead of always scheming to plunder the taxpayers more and more, the Northern Ky leaders and legislators should be pressuring our Congressional delegation to do their constitutional duty for a change and procure the needed funding for the bridge. Senator McConnell must demonstrate his leadership and clout to get the job done. The old boy is always bragging about earmarks and bringing home the bacon for Kentucky. A couple of billion dollars for a new bridge in Northern Kentucky should be a piece of cake for Mitch. Let's find out if he really wants to get re-elected.

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2) Norman Davis [by Anonymous Citizen on February 7, 2008]
What a damn joke. Sell out our infrastructure so that we will have more money in the coffers for politicians to be able to spend more because they refuse to be thrifty with tax dollars.

No wonder former Presidential candidate Guliani is an attorney for one of these companies that are buying up the leases on our infrastructure. He, as a politician, knows that they, POLITICIAN, just can't control spending other peoples money in an attempt to buy their votes so to speak.

Perhaps we need to elect a new bunch of politicians. One that will control their dastardly urges to please everyone that sends them a dollar for their campaign and raise our taxes, which this is the same as, by placing high tolls on everything, raising fees and whatever other creative scheme they can imagine or conder up.

No to this bill, STOP THE OUT OF CONTROL SPENDING!!!!!!!!!!
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3) Ted Kennedy Funds the Big Dig [by Anonymous Citizen on January 1, 2008]
Ted Kennedy was able to get the 100 billion BIg Dig funded for Boston. Why can't McConnell get our bridges funded. I am tired of paying for other state's capital projects.
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