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May 9, 2008

Folsom’s Long Road Ahead

Filed under: AL Issues, AL Executive Branch — Danny @ 1:11 pm

Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom is starting some movement on a plank from his 2006 campaign: a Mobile to Florence highway through west Alabama. A joint legislative commission is to report recommendations to the 2009 legislative session. Not only is this touted as a boon to economic development - especially in the Black Belt counties it would traverse, but Folsom would no doubt like to undergird that rumored run for the governorship in 2010.

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16 Comments »

  1. Let’s not forget that the plan to increase tax on natural gas extraction originated in Folsom’s office before being quickly co-opted by Riley.

    Comment by worth mentioning — May 9, 2008 @ 2:30 pm

  2. And was quickly voted down by the Legislature. Just because Riley co-opted a shortsighted proposal does not make that proposal any less economically absurd. With natural gas prices at record levels and rising, it does not take a Ph.D to see why the proposal made no sense in the long-term.

    Comment by Will — May 9, 2008 @ 2:57 pm

  3. I’m pretty sure that Florence would put a higher priority on the Memphis-to-Atlanta highway; I know Huntsville would.

    Comment by Reactionary — May 9, 2008 @ 3:59 pm

  4. Wonder if Little Jim remembers , this road was a Guy Hunt proposal that the Legislatives Democrats ignored at that time.

    Comment by JD — May 9, 2008 @ 4:44 pm

  5. JD, if you look back, this road WAS proposed before Hunt, endorsed by him, was actually in the State Highway Plan when Folsom was Governor, and Fob took it out.

    Comment by Paine — May 9, 2008 @ 5:33 pm

  6. Good ole Fob, I keep hoping to forget him.

    Comment by JD — May 9, 2008 @ 7:32 pm

  7. Interesting idea, very much the kind of thing Big Jim would have championed to kick off a campaign.

    Comment by SamfordDem — May 9, 2008 @ 10:37 pm

  8. Will, I was more referencing the question of undergirding the run for the Governorship with policy proposals… the natural gas extraction tax will likely be part of a platform to undergird his candidacy.

    The proposal has debatable merits, but not for the reason you indicate: the tax increase would be unlikely to affect the consumer price. It doesn’t take a PhD to explain this: natural gas extracted in Alabama makes up only a small fraction of the total market, and the extraction tax makes up only a small fraction of the extraction cost. The tax is unlikely to affect the market price for natural gas.

    It might, however, lead gas companies to other states instead of Alabama, decreasing future investment in the state. I think the jury is still out on this matter.

    Comment by worth mentioning — May 9, 2008 @ 11:30 pm

  9. The notion of a north-south corridor in west Alabama has been around forever. I lived in Fayette County seven years ago and folks were going to meetings about it back then.

    And while it would be beneficial, people who think a good road in and of itself brings economic prosperity are kidding themselves. Just take a look at Tuskegee.
    Like Auburn, I-85 has gone by Tuskegee for decades. But Tuskegee is 20 miles and 50 years from Auburn. Or drive down I-65 from Montgomery to Mobile or I-20/59 from Birmingham to Meridian.

    Comment by LA — May 10, 2008 @ 8:49 am

  10. Only road Big Jim would have championed would have been paved with a cheap surface course that needed to be redone in four years

    Comment by JD — May 10, 2008 @ 12:30 pm

  11. Believe somewhere in Desoto’s papers were plans for a West Alabama highway too.

    Comment by walt moffett — May 10, 2008 @ 1:15 pm

  12. LA, you have to have a stable system of private property rights, rule of law and self respect before any economic development can occur. I point this out because you said the interstate didnt help Tuskegee. You are right, but for different reasons. Walmart closed its Tuskegee store for internal theft. That was the first store in the USA that walmart closed for that reason. Now that we know the truth about economics and prosperity, it is easy to see why an interstate cannot help macon county. Look at the racial makeup of the counties the proposed hiway will run through. If that interstate was open today, even in 10 years, you wouldnt see anything in the black areas but bingo halls, clip joints, rim shops, head shops and what not. It is all they know, and all they will ever have. God Bless Elvis for all he has done for the rural black counties, and laughed all the way to the bank while doing so. Aint America Great!!!

    Comment by publius — May 10, 2008 @ 6:40 pm

  13. Can anyone imagine that one of their own fellow Alabamians whom just made the post above desired to become a member of the PSC, aka Public Service Commission. Now just what kind of fairness could he possibly have rendered to the good solid people of this state with that kind of racial epitone? Now let us pray, ” Ain’t God Great “

    Comment by Anonymous — May 10, 2008 @ 9:56 pm

  14. Hey Anon #13, How do you explain the stagnation of Tuskegee?

    Comment by Margaret — May 10, 2008 @ 10:10 pm

  15. Noting sky-rocketing gas prices and growth along highways wanes a lot faster than when they were originally constructed 50 years ago, do we not question the intelligence of investing major state dollars in a new interstate? I think the assumption that you put a road in an area is the only way to provide economic opportunity is a model from the 1960s and 70s, and not an economic model that can be sustained long-term.

    How can we better invest the type of money it would take to build this road? Why is the solution presumed, and then we form committees to justify the solution?

    Comment by Anonymous — May 10, 2008 @ 10:19 pm

  16. Anon, gas prices have no effect on investment along interstate hiways. ( I am talking to Anon # 15) Gas prices have no effect on investment. While gas prices may provide substantial burden to minds already ill equipted to make economic analysis, it is merely a small factor, among others, to be considered for non hiway projects. Petroleum fluctuates, stupidity is permanent.

    Comment by publius — May 10, 2008 @ 10:48 pm

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