COMMENTARY
We need long-term road solutions BY BOBBY STEM
The federal government is driving us to a highway fiscal cliff, and, per usual, the road is paved with short-term intentions. Failure to find a permanent solution to replenish the Federal Highway Trust Fund threatens Oklahoma’s future investment in infrastructure, road safety and economic development. In addition, delayed federal funding will have a significant negative impact on Oklahomans’ mobility and pocketbook. Federal dollars account for 55 percent of Oklahoma’s Eight-Year Construction Plan. This plan touches all 77 counties in Oklahoma and utilizes state and federal dollars to be put into the repair, improvement and development of public infrastructure. This long-term investment will protect our daily commutes to work, improve weekend trips to Oklahoma lakes and parks and provide a prosperous future for our state. However, should federal funding
slow or stop before 2021, the state’s ability to award contracts for needed road improvements and expansion projects will come to a rapid stop. Delays will cost time and progress to our state’s top road projects, such as the widening of Interstate 40 in Oklahoma City and repairs to Tulsa’s Interstate 244. Oklahoma drivers who depend on our roadways and bridges for personal and commercial mobility will also encounter delays from increased road volume, deteriorating road conditions and damage to their vehicles from the inability to fund needed road repairs. The Association of Oklahoma General Contractors’ consistent efforts to upgrade the quality of the Oklahoma transportation system through the years has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of state-maintained deficient bridges, the reconstruction of thousands of miles of roadways and the completion of safety improvements that
have significantly helped our economy. However, to achieve Oklahomans’ goals for a modern and safe transportation system, we must continue to make further improvements through the next decade, as Oklahoma’s transportation system is critical to the state’s economy and growth. Additionally, Gov. Mary Fallin and the Oklahoma Legislature have made the necessary efforts to find funding to ensure the continued safety, quality and expansion of our roads and bridges. Their resourcefulness has created a culture of increased competition among contractors, resulting in competitive pricing for state projects and continued growth in our state’s infrastructure. The federal government needs to make the same commitment our state has in terms of solving the depleted Highway Trust Fund. Our Oklahoma delegation has been leading this issue for several years; however, we need to
Opinions expressed on the commentary page, in letters to the editor and elsewhere in this newspaper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ownership or management.
have more federal officials with his longterm thinking and insight. Proposals to increase taxes on consumers of gasoline are short-term stopgaps and fail to address the realities of the modern driver. Thanks to the adoption of green technology and alternative fuels, people today are driving shorter distances and traveling on less gas. It might also surprise some that alternative fuel cars are heavier than their traditional fuel counterparts. Added weight contributes to road wear and undermines highway pavement sustainability over time. All of us should hope and advocate that any measures taken should be initiatives that move us further away from relying on short-term solutions. Surely the right fix is one that brings us closer to creating an educated and informed permanent solution that meets the needs of every Oklahoma driver. Bobby Stem is executive director of the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors.
LETTERS Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to jchancellor@okgazette.com or sent online at okgazette.com. Include a city of residence and contact number for verification. Fallin’s popularity wavers
According to a recent Rasmussen poll, Governor Mary Fallin has the support of only 45 percent of likely voters. (That’s down from a high of 69 percent.) Her Democratic challenger Joe Dorman came in with 40 percent support from likely voters. That telephone survey was conducted on July 15-16. In my opinion, the reason for her popularity plunge is, in part, because Fallin rejected an estimated $3.6 billion in federal funding to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma. This funding would have covered 200,000 adults who were too poor to buy health insurance. With no money to go to a doctor when they get sick, they wait until they’re so bad that they go to the emergency room, which is enormously expensive for us taxpayers.
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Fallin also signed a bill that keeps Oklahoma’s minimum wage at $7.25 an hour. This measure forces city and county governments in Oklahoma to keep the minimum wage at $7.25 statewide. In conclusion, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’” How true. How true of Oklahoma with Mary Fallin as governor. — Wanda Jo (Peltier) Stapleton Former State Representative Oklahoma City Let’s talk about human rights
For the current debate about gay marriage, let’s look back at interracial marriage. What was public opinion when courts made decisions? How did politicians and religious leaders react? The U.S. Supreme Court called restrictions on interracial marriage unconstitutional in 1967. A nationwide Gallup Poll the next year found 20 percent of people favoring interracial marriage. No church was ever required to perform interracial marriages. Still, nearly 30 years later, in 1995, Southern
Baptists reconsidered their staunch position to discover a holy acceptance of this type of marriage. Looking back at this absence of marriage equality ... well, would anyone go back? Today, various courts examine the Constitution and find again that government can’t restrict marriage between two adults. The nonpartisan Gallup Poll shows 55 percent say gay marriages should be valid. No church is going to be required to perform gay marriages. Still, we can prayerfully hope that before 30 years passes, unwelcoming religious leaders will again examine their hearts and theology.
Fallin, Lankford and other divisive politicians seem concerned only about their next election. Meanwhile, the rest of us continue to embrace, respect and support diversity. Oklahomans love marriage; most marriages here start by age 23, which puts us in the top five states for earliest age of first marriages. Our state is also in the top dozen highest rates for interracial (black/white) marriages, which shows a receptive “Oklahoma Standard” does bend toward justice. — Steven Goldman Oklahoma City