Pawlenty still using ammendments to get around his tax pledge

Yep, that gimmick is back again this year. In order to raise highway funds, it will have to be via a constitutional ammendment by the people. The Taxpayers League pledge is still in force.

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=117756

"Governor Tim Pawlenty began a push Wednesday for passage of a constitutional amendment that would set aside millions of tax dollars for road construction and mass transit, saying it could leverage billions more to tackle backlogged projects.

The Republican governor intends to ask the 2006 Legislature to pre-authorize $2.5 billion in state borrowing over 10 years that would kick in if the amendment succeeds in November.

Last year, lawmakers agreed to let voters decide, through the amendment, whether every penny paid in vehicle sales taxes should go for transportation-related spending. Currently, only 54 percent of that money is directed to highway and transit needs.

Pawlenty said the borrowing package would highlight specific road projects that would be accelerated. That way, he said, voters would know what impact their decision would have."

He's the real "governor goofy."