Laptops, REED, and highways

Bob Mercer has a report in today’s Mitchell Daily Republic that shows the expensive laptop program of Governor Rounds is not improving school performance. And as Rounds propose to spend millions more in Higher Ed’s Internet (that the general public will not get to use), the roads we common folk do use will see budget cuts, unless taxpayers "pony up":

A $27 million shortfall in state highway funds could mean scaling back some road projects or delaying them until more money is found.

One way the state is coping with the crunch: reducing the Highway Patrol's money from the gas tax by almost $2 million, which has prompted criticism from some lawmakers. Also, every program within the state Transportation Department has been ordered to cut spending by 10 percent. And the shortfall also is raising the specter of a tax hike. That would mean South Dakotans - and visitors to the state - would have to pay more when they fill up at the pump.

Remember when Ed Olson said taxpayers need to "pony up"? And remember Joel Rosenthal mocking fiscal conservatives among the ranks of Republican legislators? Sound like "The People" need to send a message in 2008.