Hoosier politicians want Coloradans to pay for our roads

Aside from not being Constitutional, ethical, or practical, it's a wonderful idea!

The most obvious practical problem-- and apparently, a bit of secret: Virginians want us to pay for their roads.

Here's Gannett's Maureen Groppe in the C-J...

Indiana lawmakers are seeking $1.8 billion in projects for their districts from a multi-year transportation bill that Congress hopes to pass this year -- if they can figure out how to pay for it.

The requests include:

• $1.2 billion to build Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to Evansville.

• $54 million for new buses for Indianapolis, Lafayette, Fort Wayne and Bloomington.

• $4 million for commuter rail planning in the Indianapolis region.

• $12 million for railroad track changes that would shave 10 minutes off travel time from South Bend to Chicago.

Of these, only the I-69 project-- highly problematic in many other ways!-- could be considered a legitimate role for the federal government.

House members have to disclose for the first time the project funding they're seeking for their districts from multiyear transportation legislation. Here are the biggest local requests of the $134 million in projects sought by Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th District:

• $50 million for the Ohio River bridges project connecting Southern Indiana and Louisville.
• $19 million to reconstruct the Milton-Madison bridge.
• $12.1 million to construct connecting roads from the interchange at Interstate 64 in Corydon to Ind. 337 and Ind. 62.
• $1.5 million to replace the bridge and approaches on Utica Pike over Lancassange Creek in Clark County.
• $750,000 for a multiuse path to connect Silver Creek and the K&I railroad bridge as part of the Ohio River Greenway Project.
• $128,000 to resurface 17 miles of streets in Austin.

Of these, only the first two might be appropriate.