Ralph Nader, meet the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

There has been a lot of talk about expanding the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, and the current rage involves a private-sector takeover.

Here's how it could work: The state leases the bridge-tunnel to a contractor for the next 50 years and slaps a $2 toll for a one-way trip. The contractor agrees to expand the bridge tunnel by a single tube, maintain the facility, and it pays the state up front for the lease, a lump sum that could be billions of dollars.

In return, the contractor keeps the money from the tolls.

Del. Phil Hamilton, R-Newport News, has been urging the state to explore this concept further, and he has the backing of House Republican leaders.

Let's hope they don't run into Ralph Nader.

Nader, who is once again running for president, has taken aim at the proposed private takeover of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Gov. Ed Rendell has announced at $12.8 billion bid for the turnpike system, all 514 miles of it.

Nader wants the Pennsylvania legislature to reject the deal. He calls it a "brazen giveaway."

"The public paid for the turnpike," he says. "The public should maintain operational control."

Nader is trying to get on the ballot in Pennsylvania, and it sounds like he wants to ride this issue in hopes of getting more signatures on his nominating petitions.

Head over to Nader's website and read the full release. And while you're at it, check out the latest line of Ralph Nader T-shirts -- what the well-dressed liberal is wearing this summer!

Comments

[J. Tyler Ballance]

Phil Hamilton and his little renegade group of PRO-TOLL REPUBLICANS is trying to destroy the Virginia GOP and saddle future generations with a never ending subjugation to foreign interests.

Phil's PRO-TOLL REPUBLICANS know that Virginians rejected the previous Dave Albo scheme to create bizarre abuser fees to soak Virginians; they know that Virginians dumped men like Marty Williams over his advocacy of the derisively called, "Regional Taxing Authorities."

Anyone with a shred of common sense left would, by now, toss their hands in the air and admit that an honest discussion of the need to increase the gas tax, increase gas guzzler fees and additional bonds is needed to provide an open, auditable solution to this revenue requirement.

Instead, Phil Hamilton, Ken Cuccinelli, Jeff Frederick and several other Republicans dive straight into the Toll quagmire. Virginians hate tolls and hate politicians who propose tolls even more.

Selling our infrastructure to "contractors" is what Phil calls it, but it is actually the sale of Virginia's sovereignty to offshore interests owned by Dutch, Red China, Arab and other foreigners.

Any politician who advocates for these privately owned toll scams should be tried for treason.