This page was last updated on July 24, 2011.
Funds needed for roads; Oren M. Spiegler; Beaver County Times; July 24, 2011.
Mr. Spiegler is such a prolific letter writer the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review gave him a little tribute back in 2003. Google “Oren M. Spiegler” and you’ll get more hits than you know what to do with. Unfortunately, prolific is not a synonym for competent. Mr. Spiegler claims to be a Republican. In my critique of “Breathing more freely,” I cited reasons why I was “beginning to believe Mr. Spiegler is simply another Republican impersonator,” but he sealed the deal with “Greatest foreign policy debacle.” Subsequent letters have been more confirmation, including this one. The group of local Republican impersonators also includes Messrs. William A. Alexander, Arthur Brown, William G. Horter, Edward J. Hum, Bill Ralston, and George Reese, all claiming to be disgruntled Republicans.
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
[RWC] Before I begin, you may recall two letters (here and here) from Mr. Spiegler claimed then-candidate-for-governor Tom Corbett would not be able to balance the PA budget without new taxes and/or increasing tax rates. As we know, Mr. Spiegler was wrong.
“I am gratified to note that state Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch seems to be on board with the proposals of the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission to address the tremendous shortfall between revenues and expenditures that must be made.”
[RWC] It appears Mr. Spiegler is trying to pull a fast one on us. You see, “state Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch” is also chairman “of the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission.” Why would Mr. Schoch not “be on board with the proposals of the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission” he himself presented?
“The commission seeks to phase in modest hikes in fees and costs that affect drivers, with the average cost increase by the fifth year estimated to be a mere $2.54 per week.”
[RWC] Let’s do some math. The “modest hikes in fees and costs that affect drivers” eventually is supposed to generate from $2.3 - $2.7 billion/yr. Divide $2.7 billion/yr by the claimed per-driver “average cost increase” of $132.08/yr ($2.54 x 52 weeks) and you get 20.4 million “typical motorist[s].” As of 2007, PA had about 8.6 million licensed drivers and a state with a population of about 12.7 million doesn’t have 20.4 million licensed drivers. If we divide $2.7 billion/yr by 8.6 million licensed drivers we get $314 per driver-year. What am I missing or misreading in the article?
“I am the last person to endorse hikes in taxes or fees, but these revenue enhancements are a wise investment that shall keep state roads and bridges from deteriorating, an issue of basic driver and passenger safety.”
[RWC] “I am the last person to endorse hikes in taxes or fees?” Sure. This might be more believable if Mr. Spiegler weren’t a Republican impersonator and told us at least twice Mr. Corbett couldn’t balance the PA budget without more taxation. It also doesn’t help his assertion when Mr. Spiegler refers to increasing tax rates as “revenue enhancements” and more government spending as “a wise investment.” That’s what I call leftyspeak.
“It would be penny-wise and pound-foolish to allow our infrastructure to crumble. We must recognize that maintenance is the less expensive and wiser path.
“I am willing to part with $2.54 per week to ensure that no one in my family or among my friends plunges off a rotted, corroded bridge. How about you?”
[RWC] With a number this small, it should be easy to get the revenue by cutting other spending, right?
Mr. Spiegler failed to note about $428 million of the increased taxes on drivers would go to fund government-run, taxpayer-subsidized bus/train systems like BCTA, PAT, et cetera.
© 2004-2011 Robert W. Cox, all rights reserved.