This fall, voters will be asked to authorize the town to issue $8.2 million in bonds for reconstruction of Saguaro Boulevard. This represents a tiny microcosm of what the nation is facing.

The World Economic Forum’s latest Global Competitiveness Report ranked the United States’ infrastructure 23rd in the world! While some may consider such a report as suspect, The American Society of Civil Engineers gives the nation a (D+) for 2013, hardly a grade to take home to show mom and dad.

Drinking water rated (D) with many pipes and mains more than 100 years old; (D) 4,000 dams considered deficient; (D-) levees; (C+) bridges; (D) roads; (D) transit; (D) hazardous waste; (D) schools; (C-) public parks and recreation. The so forth and so on is not a pretty picture.

Over and over the president has put forward proposals to address this total failure of congressional management and over and over Republicans say “No.” As late as last Thursday the GOP shot down an infrastructure bill co-written by Republican Susan Collins of Maine. Then they grabbed their bags and headed out of town, taking the month of August off. Doing nothing must indeed be hard work--poor things!

Oh, I forgot to mention, the House for the 40th time once again nonsensically voted to “de-law” ObamaCare.

In responding to a recent letter regarding the reduction in SNAP benefits Congressman Schweikert said: “We should be focusing on getting people off the Welfare State through job creation, instead of taking on more debt for our children and grandchildren.”

Repair of roads and bridges equals jobs, lots of jobs. EVERYONE agrees it is a cost the Federal Government (or Fountain Hills) cannot ignore or avoid. “You can pay me now or pay me more later!”

Vote “Yes” in November and “Yes” to Congress!