Attempt to block MetroRail funding fails

WASHINGTON - The committee chairman described it as a "food fight," an after-midnight bout as Republican Congressman Blake Farenthold tried to jimmy legislation to block federal money for Metro to build or extend the University and Uptown light rail lines.

In the end, his effort failed. But the wrangling in the wee hours last week spotlighted the countless little-noticed struggles that take place across Capitol Hill as lawmakers try to steer taxpayers' dollars toward projects they favor – and away from projects they oppose.

In this case, the stakes were potentially the future of Houston's light rail system and the unceremonious initiation of Farenthold, a freshman lawmaker with barely 13 months on Capitol Hill.

This was mainly a proxy-war between neighboring Houston Congressmen John Culberson and Sheila Jackson Lee, but I really want to point out the following absurdities:

Metro chairman Gilbert Garcia said he had been "surprised that a congressman representing the citizens of Corpus Christi would get involved in our local matter."

Local matter? So the appropriation of tens of millions of federal dollars that come out of the pockets of taxpayers from across the nation is a "local matter"? Later in the article: . . . .

[Florida Democrat Congresswoman Corinne] Brown derided Republicans' attempted intervention, saying, "You all ought to be on the city council or the transit (committee). We're Congress."

Yes, I agree that planning of local projects should be left to local government. But here's an idea - how about letting local government pay for local projects as well.

Only a Democrat would think that stopping federal tax dollars from being spent on local boondoggles is somehow meddling in local issues.

Has the GOP House leaders submitted a bill that blocks all “earmarks”?

I think you realize the answers, to my question and yours.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.