Caught in a rundown

by | Oct 24, 2014 | 2014 Elections, Editor's Blog, US Senate | 7 comments

It looks like Democrats are driving a wedge between Thom Tillis and his base. The DSCC launched two ads attacking Tillis for his support of toll roads and financial ties to donors who benefit from them. Earlier this week, The Washington Times ran a story about Tea Party members angry at the speaker for supporting the legislation.

Tillis has long had trouble consolidating his base. Dr. Greg Brannon, his Tea Party-backed primary opponent, has never endorsed him. On a radio show yesterday, a Tea Party-supporting host told me that he would rather give up hope of controlling the Senate than see RINOs like Tillis elected.

While a lot of liberals bash Tillis as a Tea Party extremist, the Tea Party sees him for what he really is: an establishment Republican who will say whatever it takes to get elected. When he needed to mollify his ideological rank flank during the primary, he ran as the guy who wanted to repeal Obamacare and showed his opposition by refusing to expand Medicaid or set up a state-based exchange. When he needed to offset criticism that he cost taxpayers millions of dollars by not expanding Medicaid, he says that it’s now time for Medicaid expansion. That’s not what true-believing Republicans want to hear.

It’s no coincidence that the ads started today. In-person early vote started yesterday. Democrats want to discourage as many Tea Partiers as possible from casting their vote for Tillis and Libertarian Sean Haugh gives anti-government conservatives another place to go. Toll roads are enough of a wedge. The fact that Tillis took big money from the developers those roads would benefit is just icing on the cake.

Both sides are now focused on people who are actually voting and trying to discourage base voters from supporting either major party candidate. A Koch-funded group is trying to use marijuana legalization as a wedge between Hagan and younger voters. But the toll roads have more punch because they’ve been simmering under the surface for years. Now that Tillis is moderating his stances to appeal to the middle, his support of toll roads is a reminder that he’s never really stood with the ideologues.

Richard Nixon once famously said, “Run like hell to the right in the primaries and then run like hell to the center.” That’s what Thom Tillis is trying to do. Right now, though, he looks like he’s caught in a rundown.

7 Comments

  1. Morris

    Tillis’ base is not Tea Party. It is the anybody but Hagan group which includes Tea Party, Republicans, as well as some Democrats and independents. I am a member of that group. She has been useless as a senator for NC, and an Obama rubber stamp.
    As far as toll roads, I am fine with them, but since NC has one of the highest gas taxes in the south, I don’t see why we would need many of them.

    • Leonard Allman

      And Tillis,McCrory,Berger, Stam et. al. have done their absolute utmost to bring NC back into the 1950’s.

    • Sharon Hudson

      Morris, these are High Occupancy Toll Lanes financed with a Public-Private
      Partnership (P3). See http://www.P3times.com to find out why you should be concerned. These are not your grandfather’s toll roads. And they are coming to a road near you. This project is just the first in NC. There are nine other projects planned as of today.

  2. Sharon Hudson

    Breaking News –
    WidenI77.org, a citizens group opposed to private toll lanes along Interstate 77 through the Lake Norman region, retained legal counsel yesterday for the purposes of seeking a possible injunction against the project. The first phase of the study will assess potential legal strategies and determine which are the most viable. Due to the publicity surrounding this project, at this phase the law firm has requested anonymity.
    “We have been able to take this crucial first step because scores of our neighbors cared enough about this issue and donated generously,” said Kurt Naas, a spokesman for Widen I-77. “We thank them for their support.”
    Earlier this month Widen I-77 received a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS as a tax-exempt charitable organization. All donations are tax-deductible and can be made online at wideni77.org.
    Widen I-77 members will be on hand to answer questions at tomorrow’s meeting of the Lake Norman Conservatives, Thursday October 30 at the Galway Hooker Restaurant & Pub, 17044 Kenton Dr, Cornelius. A presentation starts at 7pm.
    About WidenI77.Org
    Wideni77.Org (www.wideni77.org) is a citizen’s group dedicated to widening I-77 with general purpose lanes and educating the public about the problems and inequity of the HOT lane approach. The group believes toll lanes are an expensive, non-solution that will negatively impact our local economy, increase congestion on the general purpose lanes, an unfairly burden drivers. To learn more about the toll lane proposal and other information pertaining to HOT lane projects in North Carolina, please visit widen I77 .org or contact us at wideni77@hotmail.com.
    .http://www.wbtv.com/story/27152945/residents-retain-legal-counsel-to-fight-i-77-tolls

  3. emily

    I am just astounded. How do people think we will pay for roads without the tax money they don’t want to pay? They decry “socialism” one minute then claim that user fees, like toll roads, park entry fees, are a Democratic idea!! This is an example of capitalism at work and they don’t like it. Where would they get the money to expand highways? I am speechless. Am I missing something?

    • Wideni77.org

      Yes, Emily, you are missing something. First, the private toll lanes proposed in Tillis’ district cost six times more than widening I-77 just where it is needed. Second, the taxpayer contribution is actually GREATER than what the total cost would be for a bare-bones widening.

      Third, a quarter of the cost of the project has NOTHING TO DO with paving roads- it goes toward things like tolling equipment and consultant’s fees. Fourth, toll roads incur millions each year in operating costs- expenses that don’t exist with

      Philosophically, good infrastructure has indirect benefits which is why it has been historically funded by a broad tax base, not user fees. You do not pay for a fire department unless your house is burning down, correct? Or for police unless you are being robbed? Or for schools if you have no children in them? This is because we ALL benefit from the availability of emergency services, safe neighborhoods and literate society.

      And finally, this is NOT capitalism. In a capitalist venture the taxpayer does not donate the right-of-way, make the down payment and promise to cover any losses for the first eight years. Capitalist ventures do not have exclusive 50 year contracts. Capitalist ventures do not have sole control over pricing.

      Please don’t confuse capitalism with government-sanctioned monopoly.

    • Tillis Taxman Tolls

      Emily,

      You see, NC already has one of the highest gas taxes in the nation and the state collects BILLIONS per year from it. People who have been using that road for 10, 20 years have paid via gas tax for each mile they drive. They have all paid 10X over for the roadway to be widened. Now comes the time to use that money to widen it and McCrory and Tillis now say there is no money and that you will have to pay $20 per day ON TOP of still paying one of the highest gas taxes in th country. Think of it as saving up for a modets car for 10 years. Once you have set aside the amount necessary to get the car you now desperately need, they take your money and tell you if you want that same car you have to now set aside 5X more per day for the next 50 years and you can only lease the car. Great deal huh? It is double taxation and it is HIGHWAY ROBBERY!

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