The political principle: no tolls on taxpayer-built roads

While covering the MTA plan to put toll lanes on county freeways over the last few months one of the oft-repeated principles has been that people should not have to pay to drive on freeways their taxes helped build. The principle is primarily, but not exclusively, pushed by GOP politicians.

While talking with Assemblyman Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, I saw this principle get a little flexible. Huff, who supported the plan in a committee hearing this week, decided that because the carpool lane on the 10 Freeway that may become a toll lane was built with federal funds instead of state funds, the principle no longer applied. Last time I checked, I still had to fill out a 1040 and hand the federal government a large chunk of my income.

I guess the idea is that California taxpayers would have had to shoulder a lot more of the burden if it were paid for by the state instead of the federal government.

But the principle got even more flexible when I asked Huff about the 110 Freeway's carpool lane, which was built with state money. His response:

"It's not in my district... I'm not as concerned about what they are doing over there."

Which would make sense if 1) tax money of people from his district didn't go towards that freeway and 2) people from his district never ever drove on the 110.

Also, the whole principle never made a whole lot of sense to me anyway: my tax money paid for the carpool lanes but if I drive solo I don't get to use them. It also paysfor schools, which didn't educate me as a child (I grew up out of state), and don't educate anyone related to me now. If that is the principle of taxation and government we were to follow.... well, on the plus side people like me would have a lot more money. I'll refrain from laying out the obvious negative side.