Lies, Damn Lies and Bader on I-912

The Olympian had a live chat on I-912 last week. Here are selected quotes by Brett Bader of "Yes on 912":

Bader: No one denies that Eastern Washington has benefited in past or that we are all responsible, but that's a distraction.

The truth is a distraction?

Bader: The projects in [an Eastern Washington] community are small compared to dollars in Western Washington with the bulk of money going to mega projects in Seattle with no plans or budgets.

Mega projects tend to need lots of money. There are plans for these projects, and the gas tax will help fund the budgets.

Bader: I won't go back to the past, but the gas tax isn't the only source of income. But [the transportation] bill alone raised $4 billion in license fees.

Actually $3 billion. Brett is only overstating the truth 33%, and he wants the WSDOT to be accountable? He wouldn't know fact from fiction if it hit him over the head.

Bader: Even after 912 the state has $3.5 billion new tax dollars. That's plenty to do a lot throughout the state, or enough to fix a viaduct and bridge.

Actually, that would be closer to $3.2 billion. Keep making up numbers and perhaps you'll get one right. And, no, it isn't nearly enough to deal with the problems we have around the state.

Bader: We need the spotlight shone on Department of Transportation spending so we can see that it's not to go to wildlife overpasses over I-90 or new pedestrian or bike lanes.

Moderator: Are you saying wildlife is getting on the lanes in I-90, going onto the road, isn't serious?

Bader: It's frivolous.

Safety on our interstate highways is never a frivolous matter. Have a deer run in front of your car while driving 70 mph and let us know how frivolous that is - if you survive to tell the story.

Bader: Not sure I concur that $4 million is adequate to audit $4 billion.

And of course, you are an expert on the matter, right?

Bader: A vote against 912 will not be a vote against the specific projects.

I think you meant a vote "for" 912 here, but hey, you're a confused man, so no surprise there.

John, Olympia: If 912 passes and the first 3 cents of the tax stops being collected, will gas stations lower their prices?

Bader: I don't think anyone can answer that with confidence but I presume they would be reduced.

You have such faith in the oil industry. At best you're naive, which hardly makes you a good judge of the WSDOT, or matters of accountability.

Bader: I believe that in some cases road safety has become marketing for advocates of higher taxes.

Moderator: Can you give an example?

Bader: No, I'm just speaking generally

Because you can't give an example.

Rianna, Olympia: Is a few cents not worth the much needed improvements on our roads?

Bader: I wouldn't mind paying if it went to roads and made things better -- and that's the point, it doesn't.

Except, the truth is it does - via over 270 different projects.

Moderator: Are you implying [the tax] goes to something other than transport?

Bader: I think it's building projects in areas that don't benefit the majority of people paying the tax.

You think (or try to) but you think wrong. Almost every area in the state will benefit from the multitude of projects, directly and indirectly.

All of these statements from Bader are simply par for the course from the I-912 proponents. I suggest you read the entire transcript and the very good arguments made against I-912 by Mark Funk of "No on 912", and Terry Tilton and Mitch Seaman of the Washington Building and Trades Council.