We hadn't seen The Doppler Effect before, but Pogo/ Kevin Fleming has blogged up a storm about the DM & E there. Pogo looks to be a doctor who champions the free market system. He voted for Bush in 2004.
In the most recent post, Gutknecht and the largest earmark ever, but taxpayers can't comment, Pogo reprints an invitation State Rep. Tina Liebling received about a meeting he's hosting regarding the DM&E railroad project. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Undersecretary Jeff Shane, currently the second highest-ranking official at the DOT, will be Gutknecht's guest. The email reads in part:
His visit to Rochester represents a unique opportunity for citizens, communities and business interests to voice their opinions directly to a federal decision maker on the loan. Stakeholders representing the communities affected, the transportation economics of the railroad loan, and those opposed to the railroad loan are invited to share their perspectives on the situation (emphasis by Pogo).
So what's Pogo's beef? According to the blogger:
Fine, except the good Rep. Gutknecht won't be meeting with any mere taxpayers. No, what local Republicans have learned when inquiring about their chance to meet with DOT Undersecretary Shane was, er, No, Gil and Shane won't have time for them. So those being asked to pay for the expansion aren't so much invited, as in, you know, actually being able to show up. While Gil took pains to mention "citizens" in a memo, that's all the nod we'll get, until we pay for the loan and suffer the economic decline due to the train expansion.
Gil's message to the taxpayer? Shut up and Pay.
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