[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Needless to say, with the ranting on about Haliburton and soul-less Republicans, I would guess...liberal Democrat, anyone?

However, the rent-seeking (non-compete) provision in the bill irks me.

[2banana]

Funny - the liberal democrats in PA are doing the same thing...

[Raymann]

Hey, I'm all for private roads, I think they should all be private.

But not at the cost of stealing peoples property.

[Uncle Miltie]

Good thing this is a balanced piece. You can tell from the neutral language:

Warning

roadblock

Dubai

Elephants

sold their souls

barter the public interest for a buck

scheme

Halliburton

giving private companies

monopoly

outraged

scheme

corporate interests

profit by levying the fees you pay

eminent domain to take private land

private companies

one-way street

pumping public dollars into private hands

no guarantee

dead end

selling the public interest

sweetheart deals

buzzwords for profiteering

financial rut

grand scam

stay in power

gut government

corporate-socialism

crony campaign contributors

[Mr. K]

"Florida Republicans"
"Dubai"
"Once Again, Elephants in the Florida Legislature have sold their souls, assuming they ever had any.
"Routinely, they barter the public interest for a buck."
"Halliburton"
Republicans"
virtual monopoly"
"corporate interests"
"make a profit"

All in the first FOUR paragraphs!!!

[JerseyHighlander]

The Florida bill is openly fascist.
Another FL newspaper had an online graphic of the toll roads proposed for the future of the state.

The way it looks, south Floridians will be permanently indentured servants forced to tithe to whatever company owns their access routes, for perpetuity.

We can thank the Kelo decision for this partially, but the out and out whoring of the Fl Rep party to land developers is unmitigated in history.

Most disgusting that this bill passed.

[nosofar]

The bill even prohibits any local, non-toll roads from being built that would "compete" with those of for-profit companies.

This is the problem with this kind of thing. Where is the competition? I don't blame the private companies. They are in business to make money and it's perfectly reasonable to expect they would want to reduce the competition to protect their investment. If they can't get that protection, they won't buy in. This will have to be severely regulated, so we still have government in on it.

[lentulusgracchus]

They're at it again......

Note particularly the 'graf about the "no-compete" clause (no new public roads near toll roads)......and the eminent-domain angle, and the "we gots no money for roads, we gotta bring in the rich kids!!" whine from the sponsors.

Sound familiar, Texans?

Lessee......who's the governor down there in Florida, anyway? Got a mind to give him a piece of something or other.....Bush? George? -- Oh, Jeb Bush, the brother! Well, whatta coincidence! Gosh, this is like an old family reunion! Wonder if the same companies and lobbyists are involved? Bet Jeb could invite 'em all in for ..... well, they've had their fill of barbecue, how about some nice fresh Florida seafood, prepared right there on the grounds of the Florida governor's mansion? It'd be a great reunion! Como se dice, "Damn good to see you again! How you been, boys?"

Somebody ping that Austin toll-road/NASCO bunch. I just pulled a few handles out of the air.

[lentulusgracchus]

Pinging for possible interest .... (one-off ping, not making a “ping list”)....

[RightWhale]

The roads will still be public property.

[wolfcreek]

After the state sell/leases the rights to build the toll roads, the contracted company has complete control over property seizures, buying ROW, etc. thus, keeping the states from further responsibility in those matters.

It might also be noted that the mobility auths. in central Texas are already at odds with local law enforcement, attempting to bill them for right of passage except during emergency situations. Some are passing on emergency response to other districts.