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The state Capitol

(MLive file photo)

Lansing has failed. Again.

For a second consecutive year, our elected state officials failed to come up with a viable, long-term plan to fund road fixes.

Enough is enough. We urge lawmakers to take up the road funding issue once they’ve returned from their lengthy summer break. Or, better yet, now. Taking a vacation with unfinished business on the table is insulting to voters, who need the issue taken care of, and quickly.

During budget votes last week, the issue took about as many turns as our vehicles do during the art of pothole dodging we’re all coming to master. At the end of all the bluster and debate, there was no plan in place.

How lawmakers have once again failed to hear the deafening pleas of their constituents to do something about the roads escapes comprehension. At this point, voters likely would be willing to add a few more bucks to lawmakers’ taxpayer-funded health care plans to pay for hearing checks.

One could blame the failure to put a fix in place on election year politicking. But we’ve already proven in Grand Rapids that voters will pay more to fix roads.

Perhaps our leaders in Lansing failed to get the message Grand Rapids voters conveyed when we overwhelmingly approved an income tax extension for 15 years to pay for street fixes during the May election.

Let’s be clear: West Michigan’s largest city, embedded in one of the most conservative parts of the state, passed a tax to fix roads.

Your move, Lansing.

Lawmakers are scheduled to meet a handful of times between now and September. So get the job done before then.

Our legislature has been ready and able to pass laws about women’s health issues, gun rights and other politically divisive issues. But they hit a dead end with roads, which should be a fairly straightforward issue in terms of ideology.

Lawmakers should not delay in taking up the issue. Our West Michigan lawmakers in particular should be aggressive in getting this back to the table. We expect you to do what we sent you to Lansing for.

Residents of this state expect, and deserve, much better.