Dianda Named to New House Roads Committee

State Representative Scott Dianda (D-Calumet) has been named to the new House Special Committee on Roads and Economic Development. The committee was established Thursday by House Speaker Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant). Dianda is one of two Democrats on the committee. Five members are Republicans. The committee will take the lead in developing ways to fix Michigan’s roads and bridges. A ballot proposal to raise money for transportation by increasing the Michigan sales tax was recently soundly defeated by voters. Dianda opposed that proposal, and has accused the Michigan Department of Transportation of operating inefficiently.

Here is the press release issued by Dianda’s staff yesterday:

State Representative Scott Dianda (D-Calumet) said today that he is pleased to be one of the Democratic members of the newly created House Special Committee on Roads and Economic Development. Speaker of the House Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant) announced the new committee with five Republican members and two Democratic members today.
“The voters spoke on May 5 and said they want the Legislature to get to work and come up with a plan to fix the roads. I am honored to be representing the people of the Upper Peninsula in this important endeavor,” said Dianda. “I am ready to work in good faith with my colleagues from across the state to craft a solution that repairs our state’s infrastructure, grows our economy and is based on sound budgetary principles.”
Several plans were offered and discussed last year, with Proposal 1 the plan that won enough legislative support to go before the voters. After its defeat at the polls, legislators are now considering ways to generate about $1 billion a year to fix and maintain Michigan’s roads.
“As a former Michigan Department of Transportation employee, I know the department can do more with the dollars it currently receives,” said Dianda. “I am ready to come to the table with suggestions that would reduce the department’s administrative costs, increase oversight and accountability, and make sure every dollar MDOT can spare is directed towards repairing road surfaces. That is my first priority in this discussion, and the thing we need to solve before we can move on to other issues.”