The United Nations is excited about Georgia’s proposed transportation tax increase. In fact they are so excited that they devote several pages in their publication Urban World: Ten Years into the millenium to the idea.
First the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce came up with the idea:
The traffic impasse became a cause celebre for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and its president, Sam Williams. He recounted
how “we beat the drum for four years” to get permission for a regional transport sales tax add-on, enlisting the aid of the Georgia
State Chamber, top Atlanta corporations, county officials and mayors, plus Chamber allies in such regions as Savannah and Macon.
Then all of the state’s Chambers of Commerce threatened to cut off the money spigot to any politician that didn’t support their tax increase:
A pointed message was also telegraphed to would-be candidates for state office: their position on transport funding would be a
‘litmus test’ of whether they could expect campaign support from the business community.
And once the governor and state legislature were sufficiently motivated they could work together in a bipartisan way to overcome the objections of those rascally ole Tea Partiers:
…bipartisanship can be developed, ‘Tea Party’-like nihilism averted, if a governor and legislative leaders work hard to
make it happen.
Finally the article concludes by thanking Georgia for setting an example for third world countries:
That’s a fascinating model for these times, ideal for transport, maybe fresh water supply systems and other major issues.
Thanks Georgia.
Isn’t that special. You can find the publication on the United Nations website here.
No wonder Jim Galloway of the AJC reports that the entire tax is now in jeopardy:
So in January, we’ll have a full-fledged donnybrook between the two most powerful entities now existing in the Republican party: The state chambers of commerce, and the tea party.
Brilliant.