Gomers

ICONIC EATERY BURNS

: Fire caused extensive damage to Hamburg Inn No. 2 in Iowa City last week. The establishment's significance in the community is more than a good place to eat. It's long been a popular campaign stop for national politicians such as presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton and then-Sen. Barack Obama. It also was featured on an episode of television's 'The West Wing.” It will be closed for several weeks while repairs are being made.

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GAS TAX AT LOW POINT:

While strict anti-tax advocates may consider it good news, we don't think last week's report that Iowa is one of 10 states with its gas tax at historic low, when inflation is considered, is a good thing for Iowans and our infrastructure. Iowa's flat-rate fuel tax on gasoline, ethanol and diesel, one of the biggest sources of transportation infrastructure funding, hasn't been changed in 25 years other than a 1-cent increase on gas, phased in by 2006. No wonder our state in recent years has come up more than $200 million short in the annual need for routine maintenance and sorely needed improvements for our highways and bridges. We already rank No. 2 in the nation when it comes to the number of structurally deficient bridges. Opponents say the shortfall should come out of the state's general budget surplus but that doesn't account for other future funding commitments already made, nor is it a long-term solution to transportation needs so vital to our economy.

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