It's a done deal now. The state of Kansas has successfully slipped its foot in the door of a room any government would love to have access to. With relatively little commotion in the local media and with the usual vagueness that comes with the ostensibly compelling arguments offered by politicians the state has laid claim to KTA resources. Now comes the easy job of misusing the language to demonstrate how much money the state will save over the next couple of years to go along with the misuse of language they used to get the bill passed. "No KTA fares will go to state projects". Give me a break. Fares are, in fact, what give the turnpike its very life. If you use KTA equipment and personnel on state projects you are using money from KTA patrons. Where do you think the money comes from to buy the truck and pay the salary of the workers? What money the Turnpike gleans from selling ads or fibers from their private computer network are of minimal substance financially and simply help keep our fares among the lowest, (if not "the" lowest), in the turnpike world. Can the state find some "savings" by using KTA resources? Gosh, I hope so. Could I save money if someone else paid my electric bills? Using the state's logic the next step will likely be to pass a law requiring Rusty Eck Ford's repair shop to start servicing 20 state vehicles a month. It seems to me that could save the state some money too. And don't worry, the state wouldn't think of taking money from the patrons already using their services. No, really.
