Groggily, belatedly ... but finally, Senator Grooms begins to fathom the toll of bridge tolling.

Me?

I'm taking Senator Grooms's words at face value and thanking him for commenting.

I am not suggesting that Grooms has made a last-minute conversion solely for crass political reasons -- not at all, but isn't it a deliciously supreme irony that an editor from our locally somnolent "let's not offend the advertisers" newspaper has actually stated aloud this very accusation, characterizing positions like the ones voiced by Grooms as "posturing for some politicians who can tell their constituents that they tried to stop the bridge and tolls."

Wow. That's just cynical.

Bridges plan questioned by some officials; Study shows disparity in cost for low income, minority individuals, by Braden Lammers (works for the same newspaper where the assistant editor believes that if bridge tolling rape is inevitable, we should relax and enjoy it)

... “After careful review of the recently released economic impact study on the Ohio River Bridges Project, I am still primarily concerned with the burden to Indiana taxpayers and worry that the proposed tolls will put undue financial strain on the people the project is designed to help,” said Indiana Sen. Ron Grooms, R-Jeffersonville, in a statement released last week. “It is important to look at every option available to lessen the financial burden southeast Indiana residents will face, either with some type of individual tax credit or one for employers who are willing to pay employee tolls.”

He suggested that for Indiana residents working in Kentucky, there could be a tax credit or that local residents could buy an annual pass at a further reduced rate than the suggested $1 tolls ...