SB-909 (now P.A. 387 of 2012), introduced by Republican State Senator Tom Casperson from Escanaba, created the Regional Transit Authority, which ostensibly will be able to do the job that the two other existing agencies could not.

Initially funded by a $250,000 appropriation from the general fund, later bumped up another $250,000, the RTA is showing the same signs of its predecessors: Not being able to live within a budget.

According to today's Detroit News, the RTA has been going around Lansing, hat in hand, asking for an additional $1.7-million from the legislature. If Lansing doesn't pony up, the only other option the RTA will have is to take money from SMART & D-DOT.

According to RTA Chairman Paul Hillegonds,

"There's no plan B at the moment. Really. That needs to be said. We agreed on the authority to tap the local provider's funding but this is a board that does not want to do that (again). It's not a great way to start relationships with the providers that are already hardpressed to provide the services they wish to offer to customers."

Great plan, taking money from transit agencies that claim they don't have enough money already, to pay for an agency which hasn't done anything yet.

Oh, and did I mention that the RTA is also pushing for a property tax hike and vehicle registration "fee" starting next year to offset to cost of this little endeavor? And unlike the current property tax we already pay for SMART, individual cities cannot opt out. If the majority of the population in that region approves the millage, everyone has to pay. All of this is contained within Sen. Casperson's bill.

But for this year at least, RTA backers really shouldn't worry. Republican State Senator and Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Kahn has all but assured them that the $1.7-million will be a done deal by the end of this year.

Ah, to be so generous with other people's money.

I've touched on the redundancy aspect. You're probably asking: What so exactly does this have to do with regulation?

For that answer, I'll direct you to a quote made by current SMART CEO and interim RTA CEO John Hertel defending this new layer of bureaucracy (here's a hint: "economic development" is always a great speaking point),

"I know in this Legislature, economic development is a major priority and that really rang very, very solidly with those members. We're the only one of the top 30 population areas in the country where we are able to attract things like the Super Bowl or the NCAA Final Four but we're the only one where you get off the airplane, you can't use mass transit to get to your hotel or the arena."

Woodward light rail isn't resonating very well with the Michigan Taxpayers. Better use the Airport argument.

Hmmm, regular reliable transportation from Detroit Metro to Downtown Detroit?

If only there were someone to fit that bill, like Metro Cars/Cabs?

Or someone like, maybe, Lyft or Sidecar?

What about someone to transport large numbers of people at one time?

Like Shuttle Company of America (ironically still awaiting licensing approval from MDOT).

Or, The Detroit Bus Company.

Or even something like, possibly, a jitney?

Oh, that's right. Silly me. "Necessary" government regulations.

Those who are ready and willing to take the chance, make the investment and grow Michigan's economy, let's put the kibosh on that nonsense right here and now.

We can't let you take the initiative, be entrepreneurial, literally pull yourselves up by your own bootstraps (now, where have I heard that before???), and fill a need in the community.

Nope. It's not really economic development unless it's the government making the choices and setting the rules.

So just keep on writing more laws and let state agencies promulgate more regulations for us.

It's a shame that a "republican" governor and a Republican Legislature cannot see that they are the really problem that they are trying to fix.