In THIS commercial, former State Reps Katie Eyre and Jefferson Smith tell you the essential FLAWS of the proposed I-5 bridge aka the Columbia River Crossing.
As I pointed out last night on the facebook page (please ‘like’ it!) here, AFP is calling for a full court press against HB 2800, The CRC bill. They’re urging a call to all of these lawmakers: Please call every Senator listed below RIGHT NOW!1. It’s too expensive. They call it ‘a billion dollar boondoggle.’ That’s an understatement. According to economist Joe Cortright (a reliable lefty), the project will cost upwards of $10 billion.bridge called the Columbia River Crossing. The left hates the bridge because the left hates cars and loves fish more than people. The right hates it because it’s fiscally unsustainable. Herewith are your CRC Talking Points:
2. It’s not high enough. Some businesses which have been on the river forever will not be able to bring their goods down river. Why? The bridge isn’t high enough. Why would they dare build it too low? To accommodate light rail which Clark County residents have made abundantly clear they don’t want.
3. Tolling. People aren’t afraid to pay their way. They’re afraid to pay for stuff they don’t need like a too low bridge with light rail run by a public agency which is going broke. Tolling on the new bridge won’t be enough to cover costs.They’ll have to toll the I-205 Sam Jackson Bridge to help bridge the fiscal gap.
4. Squeezed. The Columbia needs a third bridge in the Metro area, preferably going to Columbia County and leading to Washington County. The planners don’t want that because there will be MORE choice for travelers. Planners plan for light rail and high density housing. Giving people the ability to travel from one bucolic place with a back yard for their kids to play in, to another bucolic burb where they work is anathema to the planner class. They want control over where you travel and want to stick you with the bill for their poor choices.
Co-Chair Senator Bruce Starr 503-986-1715
Senator Herman Baertschiger 503-986-1702
Senator Brian Boquist 503-986-1712
Senator Betsy Close 503-986-1708
Senator Ted Ferrioli 503-986-1950
Senator Larry George 503-986-1713
Senator Fred Girod 503-986-1709
Senator Bill Hansell 503-986-1729
Senator Tim Knopp 503-986-1727
Senator Jeff Kruse 503-986-1701
Senator Alan Olsen 503-986-1720
Senator Chuck Thomsen 503-986-1726
Senator Dou Whitsett 503-986-1728
Senator Jackie Winters 503-986-1710