Latest on I-35W Bridge...

From a personal communication from Rep. 15A from Steve Gottwalt:

Here's what I've learned this afternoon as I participated in a meeting re: the 35W bridge situation . . .

Governor Pawlenty has been very firm with House Speaker Kelliher and Senate Majority Leader Pogemiller that there will be "no special session without prior agreement on the agenda and on the bills." It must be "transportation specific" -- he will not revisit the Tax Bill; he will not agree to an pen-ended session. It would be one day only, and probably in September. This comes directly from Pawlenty's Chief of Staff, Matt Kramer.

Reconstruction of the 35W bridge would be a modern replacement, with 10 lanes. However, Mayor Rybeck is trying to accomplish several add-ons, including re-configured interchanges and even a bridge that would carry light rail. Those are "extra" costs above and beyond the $250 million being discussed as federal emergency dollars for replacement. Congressman Oberstar has made it clear the federal dollars cannot apply to such add-ons. Rybeck needs to understand this is relief and replacement, not "Santa Claus comes early to Minneapolis."

Oberstar has indicated he will seek a federal 5 cent/gallon gas tax increase dedicated exclusively to bridge upkeep and replacement nationally (focused on the highest priority bridges).

Above all: There are still eight people missing, and our top priority is care and concern for the families and friends of those people, those who were injured, and the emergency search and rescue crews still searching the river. This is not the time to debate politics and partisan posturing.

I'll have more to share after I tour the 35W bridge collapse site tomorrow (Thurs.) noon. I'll also be discussing this on KNSI tomorrow morning 7-8 a.m.
-Rep. Steve Gottwalt

In a phone conversation with Mr. Gottwalt, Steve related his displeasure in the manner in which the DFL and their operatives were politicizing this disaster. For example, Gottwalt cited the fact that Elwin Tinklenberg was on the air within hours of the disaster, blaming funding cuts for the catastrophe. But if that was indeed the case, and that funding cuts were indeed instrumental in the bridge collapse, then why did Tinklenberg, as past transportation secretary, preside over 350,000,000 in license tab fees cuts during his tenure in the Ventura administration?

According to Gottwalt, The NTSB may take between 12 to 18 months before they can determine what is the actual cause of the bridge collapse; and he notes that the fingerpointing that is currently going on is shameful at worst, and disrespectful to the families of victims, at best.

Mr. Gottwalt has invited me (and Gary Gross) to accompany him as he tours the bridge site tomorrow, and I'll have more to post afterward.