Lexus Lane Mica

More Road Taxes suggested by John Mica

In an about face Congressman John Mica who for years has blocked the idea, is now suggesting leasing out our public roads to private companies:

State and local leaders, he (John Mica) said, need to search for new ways to raise money because the national gas tax is falling thanks to higher prices and more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Obama administration and the Congress, he added, also are committing more money to mass transit and less to roads. Probably the least popular idea floated by Mica is leasing Florida's Turnpike or the 105-mile toll system in Orlando that's owned and operated by the Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority."I just don't think that's practical," Orlando lawyer Marco Marchena said of turning over the 460-mile Turnpike owned by the state to a private company. Marchena is a member and former chairman of the FTC, which sets policy for the Turnpike.

This stupid idea will most likely lead to higher tolls on our toll roads:

Crotty and Marchena said they worry that leasing, which could raise billions of
dollars, would result in giving up control of toll increases to a private
company and that the money raised by the transaction could go to the general
needs of government rather than building and maintaining more roads

Mica Claims 9/11 Terrorist Boarded Planes OUTSIDE US

This is funny if it wasn't so deplorable:

Congressman John Mica has been a big supporter of body scanning technology,
just not domestically.
"It is the only thing that can give us protection, but I don't necessarily need that equipment in Orlando."
Mica says our biggest threat comes from outside of the US. When talking about how TSA screens before a flight right now, Mica had to laugh.

It's not at all like the 19 terrorists who caused 9/11 didn't board right here in the US!!

How in the world does he DARE say that our "biggest threat comes from outside of the US."

I guess John Mica forgot about what happened on 9/11 already!! Call it a senior moment ;)

This is the word on the steeet:

john mcnary - December 18, 2009
Let’s be honest. The remainder two-thirds of the country built the NE corridor system for the near-exclusive benefit of the people there. The NE corridor has had billions bestowed upon it over the past decades. Nearly HALF of the nation’s population live in the metro areas to be served by HSR in Californoa, Florida, and the midwest, where the next systems should be built. It’s time to let the rest of the nation reap the benefits that the NE corridor states have had for years. We in the rest of the nation have seen our rail infrastructure shrink while yours has been improved — dramatically — since 1972. It tales 12 hours by Amtrak to move from SF to LA … would that be acceptable to you?

Yet Mica is pitching privatizing the Acela with his NY homies here:

December 15 - U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters and Congressman John Mica (R-FL) joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg in New York City today to announce the Department of Transportation's request for proposals for high-speed rail investment in corridors across the United States. Citing the energy efficiency, convenience, and economic competitiveness benefits of high-speed rail, the political leaders lamented the slow progress of the U.S. in implementing modern high-speed rail technology.

And dissing Florida, the state he represents:

February 26, 2009 -- The Florida High Speed Rail Authority will meet today in Orlando for the first time in almost four years. The authority will begin putting together a proposal to get its hands on some of the $8 billion in federal stimulus money that's been set aside for high-speed rail. One U.S. lawmaker who's been a huge proponent of rail projects -- both commuter and high-speed -- is Republican Congressman John Mica of Winter Park. But it turns out he's not so f ired up about spending that money for a system in Florida -- at least not right now. 90.7's David Pitman spoke with Mica from Washington, and he explained why.