Posted on 10/23/2005 6:35:27 AM PDT by .cnI redruM
ALASKA SEN. Ted Stevens threw the senatorial version of a hissy fit on the floor the other day. The issue was a proposal by his Republican colleague, Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn, to block $453 million earmarked for two Alaska bridges in the recent highway bill and instead use some of the money to rebuild the Interstate 10 bridge across Lake Ponchartrain wiped out by the recent hurricane. Mr. Stevens is one of the masters of the Senate at steering federal money in the direction of his state, but he was not going to stand for this reverse flow.
"I will put the Senate on notice -- and I don't kid people -- if the Senate decides to discriminate against our state and take money only from our state, I will resign from this body," Mr. Stevens vowed. Sounds awfully tempting to us -- but not, apparently, to Mr. Stevens's colleagues; the amendment failed 82 to 15.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Stevens has to be suffering from dementia. What a pathetically illogical, self-serving, and sad rant!
I would have been one of the 15 that was willing to call Mr. Stevens bluff.
If our numbers had not been limited to 15 but instead exceeded 51, then I would have gone and opened the door of the Senate chamber for him, saying: "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."
It is his type of high-spending ways which have undercut one of the longstanding pillars of GOP conservatives - reigning in the federal bloat.
He may think he has temporarily bought his next election in Alaska but he is more damaging to the GOP as a whole than any Dim.
When it comes to Pork the Republicans have just as bad as the Democrats were when they were in power. Very dissapointing.
....and don't let the door hit you in the a#$.
Alaska NEVER should have been gives statehood.
One thing to keep in mind per tax dollars to Alaska is the real expense of building anything in Alaska. Costs of building materials are greatly inflated by transportation costs.
My heart bleeds for Alaska. A state that size andd with that many natural resources can fend for itself. Economic growth and development should pay for "bridges to nowhere". NOT ME.
With the increase in the price of oil, Alaska has an increase in oil revenues.
Those revenues were $2.4 billion in 2004, before oil climbed into the stratosphere. They are projected by Alaska State to be $3.1 billion for 2005, or an additional $700 million.
Alaska can afford to build its own &^%^%$ bridge and still have $250 million of its extra 2005 oil revenue left over.
But, no Mr. Stevens thinks a father and a mother working two jobs in Atlanta to feed their three kids ought to continue to have higher-than-otherwise needed federal taxes, so that he can give that revenue as a $450 million gift to his 630,000 constituents.
And GOPers don't like it when Dims call 'em greedy. Hmmmm
No the question the Alaska politicians don't want to deal with back home is:
If only Alaska taxpayers were paying for the bridge, would the 616,000 Alaskans want to pay the $450 million for a bridge that is not needed for 14,000 islanders who are doing fine with their 7 minute ferry?
Ah, now we see why the pols raid the federal treasury. The state pols get to avoid asking for the appropritation from local taxes and the federal pols get to pretend they are Santa Claus bringing the magic money from the endless pot of gold in Washington, D.C.
Stevens should simply resign any way.
Amen to that. I want a competent third party candidate but so far we don't have any but kooks who are willing to run. I think both parties are in need of a kick in the balls.
With steel-toed boots.
For Dems and Pubbies fighting every year for their cherished programs and pork barrel projects, Ted Stevens is THE man to see. This is why they don't cross him in his pet legislation.
Always busy taking care of the home folks, Stevens has steered billions of dollars into his remote, largely undeveloped state. According to his friend, Ernest Hollings, Ted has long outstripped Sen. Byrd and others in bringing home the bacon to a home state.
Stevens said he will remain in the senate to oversee any drilling in ANWAR. The man is still mentally sharp. His collegues don't underestimate his acuity and considerable legislative cunning.
Stevens describes himself as a "mean, miserable SOB" and as a "progressive." He is pro-abortion.
Leni
Yep and the Alaskan Republicans are the worst.
$100mm for a bridge for 56 people on an island. $2mm per person. Ridiculous.
Are you aware that less than 1% of Alaska is privately owned? The Federal Government owns most of the land. Why should you be surprised that Alaska doesn't produce more? I don't know of any giant parks that produce enough income to build its infrastructure? Let us drill ANWR, let us have more mining permits, let us produce the Oil and Gas in Bristol Bay.
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