Government’s Municipal Bill Deprives Big Cities of Public Transport Funds: MDG’s Rasmus Hansson Tearfully Speaks Out

– It’s completely pointless. The government plays city against country in an unsavory way. Everyone loses from this. Absolutely everyone.

Rasmus Hansson (MDG) is tearing his hair out.

The MDG summit has just learned that the government’s municipal bill deprives the big cities of significant sums for public transport. Money is moved, briefly explained, to counties with ferries and long travel distances.

– Much money

Densely built-up areas lose, that is. In Oslo alone, NOK 133 million disappears.

– And there is a lot of money for Oslo municipality, says finance councilor Einar Wilhelmsen (MDG).

Rogaland loses 100 million, Trøndelag 47, and Akershus is 22 million short.

Wilhelmsen says Oslo municipality must take a closer look at where to cut to recover the money they are now losing, but one thing is clear:

– This will be noticed! Public transport in Oslo is already struggling with the enormous price increase, and not least the sky-high electricity prices. In addition, not all of the travelers have returned after the pandemic. We are trying to work our way back, and get more people to travel by public transport. Now we need help from the government, but we got the opposite, says the city council

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City against country

In order to finance public transport in the rural areas, the government is now transferring significant sums from public transport in the big cities. And here the MDG profiles mean that Støre, Vedum and co. playing city against country.

– The result will be more cars in the cities, a poorer urban environment and weaker public transport services. And who is affected by this? Yes, those who must take the bus, those who can least afford it. It is the ordinary people that this government is so concerned about, says Hansson.

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Salmon with bad timing

He adds:

– If the government is really looking for a measure that, with fine precision, makes life miserable for ordinary people with little money in their wallets, then they hit the nail on the head here, Hansson continues.

– You don’t want buses and ferries in the districts, do you?

– Yes, of course! I want both. And it is entirely possible. I want world-class public transport services throughout the country.

– And then you want less of?

– The government spends enormous sums on roads that really only serve the salmon industry and a few small interest groups. We will prioritize public transport for people throughout the country. Salmon should rather use a boat, says Rasmus Hansson.