I  received a call from Move MN Transportation this morning to call Rep. Bennett to ask her to vote for $2 billion in transportation spending. I looked up Move MN and checked the list of members and found every liberal group in the country listed, but along with them was listed the names of a lot of engineering and construction firms as supporters. I have worked in a construction-related business and know that when there are a lot of jobs on the books profit margins go up. Projects a couple of years ago came in below budget, but they are now coming in well over budget. If we spent a billion dollars two years ago versus today we would get 30 percent more for our money. Some would say that’s due to inflation but it is really due to 25 to 30 percent more profit margins for contractors and suppliers. The state cannot effectively spend the amount of money that liberals want to spend. Remember $500 hammers and $2,000 toilet seat covers? This same type of thing con happen in road construction. Republican spending levels are high enough.

 

John Forman

Albert Lea