Wow! That Regional Transportation District referendum vote was a lot closer than I thought it would be. Maybe they should have a recount.
Getting spanked by a 4-1 margin in Porter County almost seems like a victory for something that was so vague and would have benefitted so few. In St. Joseph County, which had no reason to vote for it, it still managed to lose by a mere 18-1 margin.
Mass transit is not exactly a vote magnet in a land addicted to the gas-guzzling freedom of the automobile, especially if it's going to increase taxes. At least, not until gas is $10 a gallon or more, as it is in Europe.
Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Neverland, called the defeat a job killer, but not many voters were convinced of the RTD's potential. I can't understand their skepticism. The nonexistent third Chicago airport has kept at least 500 consultants employed for the last 20-some years.
With a few administrators, board members and their assorted family members, a Lake County tradition, but not exactly unheard of in Porter, the RTD could have a cast of thousands. You probably wouldn't have any more buses or trains, but the voters made it clear they don't want those anyway.
The referendum was conceived and written by downstate legislators to "help" the region. I don't know how they could say that with a straight face, even amongst themselves, because the referendum was designed to fail.
The mandate for the special, costly election to the concept the RTD "could" impose a quarter percent income tax to the notion only two counties needed to pass it for it to take effect in all four each was sufficient to assure defeat. Trying to force Porter County to be involved in a joint venture with Lake County was even more ludicrous.
Porter County Commissioner Bob Harper probably would rather cover himself in honey and juggle hornet's nests than put the county under the corrupt thumb of Lake County politicians. He doesn't even want to be in the Regional Development Authority with them.
The defeat means those downstate legislators can claim they tried, but the region rejected them. Then they can go back to ignoring us for the next 50 years because our own legislators are too busy bickering amongst themselves to get anything done.
Even mass transit boosters opposed the referendum, saying it was poorly planned and should be sent back to the Legislature to do it right. Good luck with that. As far as the downstate legislators are concerned, it turned out just as they wanted the first time.
The opinions are those of the writer. He can be reached at phil.wieland@nwi.com or (219) 548-4352.
