Los Santos Insider | State Senators Fiercely Debate Highway Funding

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State Senators Fiercely Debate Highway Funding Bill

By David Buckley

February 2, 2023

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San Andreas State Capitol, 2023.

The San Andreas State Senate held a hearing on Tuesday to discuss the State Highway System Revitalization Act of 2022. The bipartisan bill, SB 115, was proposed by Senators Brandenburg, Jones, and Goodwater and seeks to improve the state's highway infrastructure. The bill aims to invest $6 million over the fiscal cycle to upgrade and rehabilitate existing highways. This funding would be used by the Department of Labor to establish public contracts for private companies for the expansion and maintenance of highways. The proposal comes after the passage of the Safe Speed Adjustment Act of 2022, which increased the maximum speeds on state highways to 100 miles per hour.

 

At the Appropriations Committee hearing, Senator Brandenburg argued that his bill is necessary to improve the state's highway system and make it safer for all who use it. He also noted that the improvements would bring many economic benefits to the state.

 

“In order to further increase the safety of our citizens, we must also shift our gaze towards the infrastructure of our State and what better part to look at first, if not the highways of our State, which connects the county and the city, and represents the main avenues of transport, logistics, and general traffic in our State,” Brandenburg said at the hearing.

 

Secretary of State Noah Wade provided testimony supporting the idea behind the bill, but challenged its language, believing it to be too restrictive. Wade argued that the specific requirements on wages and manhours would hamper competitiveness during the bidding process for public contracts. Wade went so far as to question the morality of the proposal all-together.

 

“Declaring a static funding plan when there has not been a proper vetting, much less proper selection of possible candidates, is highly unethical and not something that my administration endorses," Secretary Wade testified.

 

However, there is a catch. Secretary Wade's remarks contradict earlier work undertaken by his own government. The Senate has passed nearly identical language with static rates in past bills, mirroring those provided in the current highway bill. For example, the Q1 Department of Labor Appropriations Act of 2022 received unanimous Senate support and was signed into law by Governor Brandt. The legislation funded a contract for the Mirror Park housing development project that Secretary Wade's administration oversaw and implemented. Identical language was also included in the Q2 Department of Labor Appropriations Act of 2022, which funded toxic site identification and clean-up contracts for private businesses.

The highway bill has received support from local business owners and citizens. Notably, Horizon Developers argued that the improved infrastructure would make it create countless jobs via public-private partnerships. The construction company has fiercely lobbied for its passage, contacting numerous Senate offices through the lobbying firm Vinewood Strategies and Solutions. Horizon is not new to the contracting scene, having secured contracts to build the State Capitol and the Mirror Park development.

 

“We are confident that the bill will pass the committee and be signed into law soon,” said Horizon's government relations representative. “From construction workers to engineers to transportation professionals, the bill will create jobs in every sector imaginable.”

 

However, the bill was not without its opponents. Democratic Senator Luca Giraldi voiced his opposition, breaking ranks with the Democratic Leader Diana Jones. Giraldi questioned the necessity of investing in the state highway systems, and suggested that the legislation is a favor to lobbyists and development companies like Horizon.

 

"[Senator Brandenburg] mentioned Horizon Developers, who, by the way, also emailed my office. In that email, I assume the same one that was sent to you, they requested for these funds that today you're proposing," Giraldi said to Brandenburg. "And it is their very same engineers who convinced you of the need for those funds? Just to be clear, you're believing the opinion of those who will directly benefit from it?"

 

The hearing concluded with a vote to keep the bill in committee, for now. If the bill eventually passes through the committee, it will then move to the full State Senate for final approval. If the bill is approved and signed into law by the governor, it will be the largest state infrastructure project in recent years. It is expected to create many jobs in the construction sector and provide upgrades to the state’s highway system. The legislation may also be a major step towards improving the state’s economy, transportation integration, and may make San Andreas a more attractive destination for businesses that rely on logistics and transportation. If the bill is voted down, the Senate and State Government may feel the wrath of moneyed interests and disgruntled San Andreas construction workers.

 

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[The American Dream]

Comments are enabled.

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Name:

Comment:

[BillyWestern]

Name: Nice

Comment: Terrifically written article.

[notoriousdancso]

Name: JA

Comment: It's become clear to me that Giraldi has never driven to Sandy and back, or he does so very rarely. If you commute or use the motorway between Sandy Shores and Los Santos, you know how bad the roads are. Potholes the size of the Fatboy crater and the hard shoulder is a disaster, where it's actually still present, because there are in fact stretches where you can't really pull over should your vehicle malfunction etc. 

 

Also, the Senate has passed a Bill not so long ago, which expanded the speed limits on the motorways to 100 mph, from 90 mph. In it's current state, I'd rather drive an additional two hours on rural roads instead of using the highway, because it's not safe. What if I hit a pothole and lose a tire while not even doing 90 or 100 mph.

Edited February 3, 2023 by notoriousdancso

[subway244]

Name: K. Flir

Comment: ＠JA Agreed. I drive a Shinobi and if you think potholes are bad for a car, they're TEN times worse for a bike. I have to contend with being jabbed to death by my own bike's steering handles because of how bumpy these roads are. I'd rather drive the Alderney City motorway.