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factcheck wrote:

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I'm still trying to figure out why I-25 is a GOP problem? Didn't the state decide to re-route funds for a new stadium project among other things. Remind me again who runs the state of Minnesota. Remind me again who runs Louisiana and especially New Orleans, you know the first responders to any emergency? Are those buses still under water?

As Numen notes, it was the I-35W bridge, not I-25.

Also, the state did not re-route any funds to the baseball stadium. The baseball stadium's public contribution is being paid for by sales tax revenue in Hennepin County only.

What do you mean by 'runs' the state? There's a Republican Governor, but a Democratic legislature. Last time I checked, first responders weren't exactly partisan appointments, nor was a single bridge collapsing nearly as difficult a disaster to respond to than a whole city flooding. As Numen also notes, the response in Minnesota was handled very well at all levels, including Federal. Come on.

As far as the political implications of the collapse go, the early indications are indeed that the bridge failed primarily because of a design flaw, coupled with a few other factors (weight from construction equipment, etc. Even if the exact case can't be pinned on Pawlenty, the symbol certainly can. Pawlenty vetoed several bi-partisan transportation funding bills simply because they included a small gas tax increase (one that doesn't even cover inflation since the last time the tax was adjusted!) and finally had his veto overridden.

Is it fair to blame Pawlenty for the bridge? No. But infrastructure and transportation spending is a tremendous weak spot for him, primarily because of his dogmatic adherence to the no new taxes schtick.