a:1:{s:15:"field_news_body";a:1:{i:0;a:2:{s:5:"value";s:6541:"<span style="font-size: x-large;">A hearing to give testimony on HB 4925 was held earlier today in Lansing by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.&nbsp; <br />
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The bill would permit a public-private partnership agreement that would provide for the charging and collection of user fees and ancillary charges for the use of a public transportation facility.<br />
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The bill uses the terms </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>user fees</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span> and </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>ancillary charges</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span> in place of the terms </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>tolls</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span> or </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>tolling.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'<br />
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The bill would give MDOT a much larger degree of control in the decision making process for making decision without the oversight and approval of the legislature for the approval to assess fees, tolls, etc.&nbsp; It also allows for High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on highways.<br />
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The bill also states that </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>nothing in this section shall be construed to allow the conversion of any lanes existing on the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section into tolled or user-fee lanes except that the department may determine which lane of an existing highway is designated for imposition of user fees if capacity of that highway is expanded.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'<br />
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In a state and country where government is continually getting more draconian and expanding its power and authority we all need to let our legislators know where we stand on the issues.<br />
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The question we all need to ask is that do we want the Michigan Department of Transportation to have more decision making authority to make these </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>public-private partnership agreements</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span> without legislative oversight?<br />
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I thought we elected our Senators and Representatives to make these decision not government bureaucrats that have no accountability to the voters.<br />
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If you agree let you elected officials in Lansing know where you stand on this issue.<br />
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FOR THE TEXT OF THE BILL CLICK ON THIS LINK:<br />
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http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/billintroduced/House/pdf/2013-HIB-4925.pdf<br />
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FOR THE BILL ANALYSIS CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK:<br />
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http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/billanalysis/House/pdf/2013-HLA-4925-7C49CFA7.pdf<br />
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ONE LAST THING TO CONSIDER:<br />
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The Obama Administration is pushing the </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>GROW AMERICA ACT</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span> that would allow states to create </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>Toll Roads</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span> that are part of the </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>Interstate Road System</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>!<br />
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For an article on Obama</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span>s proposed legislation click on the following link:<br />
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http://www.clinton-countygop.com/content/obama-%E2%80%9Cinterstate-toll-roads%E2%80%9D-could-be-coming-road-near-you<br />
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