The appalling lack of values of Republicans is more and more apparent as the days pass. We can only hope that the resignation of Senator Larry Craig is soon followed by the resignation of Minnesota's Lt. Governor Carol Molnau who serves as Minnesota's transportation commissioner.
Lt. Governor Molnau's carelessness in office is extreme. Even though she does not have a college degree and somewhat proudly asserts she does not read Minnesota's bridge inspection reports, she has repeatedly promoted herself as a transportation expert and she has repeatedly claimed that Minnesota did not need significant increases in transportation spending to address transportation issues--this despite reports showing hundreds of problem bridges in Minnesota.
Even now that a badly maintained bridge has collapsed, Molnau seems undaunted and as careless as ever.
At what point does this woman's carelessness move from immoral to criminal? Interestingly, Minnesota Statutes states second degree manslaughter has occurred when "by the person's culpable negligence whereby the person creates an unreasonable risk, and consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm to another".
If we want to honor those who died on that collapsed bridge, we should remove Lt. Governor Molnau and the many political cronies in Mn/DOT from office. But no, our Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty says he confident in Molnau's leadership.
I could not disagree more. Minnesotans deserve a transportation department that is run by professionals with the engineering education and background needed to realize when bridges are dangerous. Let's hope the voters hold both Molnau and Pawlenty accountable.