States to start selling infrastructure en-masse to make up budget shortfalls

I'm sure our foreign debtors would be more than willing to accept the title to our infrastructure as settlement for our huge debts. Sure, it will allow states to avoid raising taxes...but instead we'll simply be paying huge tolls and fees to use infrastructure that our tax dollars built...and the proceeds will go to foreign nations. However, we wouldn't expect our feeble politicians to think that deeply, would we?

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By the Associated Press

Minnesota is deep in the hole financially, but the state still owns a premier golf resort, a sprawling amateur sports complex, a big airport, a major zoo and land holdings the size of the Central American country of Belize.

Valuables like these are in for a closer look as 44 states cope with deficits.

Like families pawning the silver to get through a tight spot, states such as Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts and Illinois are thinking of selling or leasing toll roads, parks, lotteries and other assets to raise desperately needed cash.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has hinted that his January budget proposal will include proposals to privatize some of what the state owns or does. The Republican is looking for cash to help close a $5.27 billion deficit without raising taxes.

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