August 6, 2007 (LPAC)--The state of Minnesota is now considering an increase in the gas tax, in order to fund the reconstruction of the collapsed Interstate 35W bridge. Ironically, the Democratic state legislature had produced just such a bill earlier this year, which would have doubled the inspection schedule for bridges, making it annual, but it was vetoed by the Republican governor Tim Pawlenti. The state's Democratic DFL party tried to override the veto in May, but was unsuccessful. "I think people are clamoring for us to do something about this," State Transportation Secretary Steve Murphy said. "Our system is underfunded. I hate to tap taxpayers, but we haven't had real money in the system since 1988." That's the last time gas taxes, now at 20 cents per gallon, were increased.

While this is commendable, and the governor's "no tax increase" stand is terrible justification for vetoing a bill of this sort, the fact remains that our nation is now in a situation where our infrastructure is so rotten, that no tax increase, no matter how large could solve the problem. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the state of Minnesota alone has a $1 billion infrastructure deficit. However, Minnesota ranks well when compared to the rest of the nation. Just 3% of the 1,657 National Highway System bridges in the state were rated deficient last year, and 10% of the Non-National Highway bridges, putting it 38th nationwide. Pennsylvania and Michigan were among the worst, nationwide. Without a federally funded program, states simply cannot solve the problem.