SENATE STRIPS EARMARKS FROM 'BRIDGES TO NOWHERE'

Sierra Club ^ | nov. 15, 2005 | Sierra Club

[blogblogginaway]

Statement by Sierra Club Executive Director, Carl Pope

The Senate Appropriations Committee removed earmarks for two controversial "bridges to nowhere" in Alaska: the Gravina bridge, which would connect Ketchikan to an island of 50 people, and the Knik Arm bridge, which would link Anchorage to a sparsely populated area. The projects have been the subject of strong criticism because of the general backlog of existing roads and bridges in desperate need of repair, especially those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. According to the National Association of Civil Engineers, one in four bridges nationwide is structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, not including the damage from Katrina and Rita.

The issue has been particularly controversial for Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) who has served as a strong advocate for the Gravina bridge despite the fact that her family owns 33-acres of undeveloped land 3/4 of a mile from the point where the bridge would touch down. Since the State would now decide how the money would be spent, her father, Governor Frank Murkowski, would now face the same ethical scrutiny.

Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, responded to the news with the following statement:

"Most Americans are risking their lives driving on crumbling roads and bridges that don't get fixed because there simply isn't enough money. That explains why there was such a visceral public reaction to the idea of wasting national tax dollars on two bridges to nowhere in Alaska.

"Removing the budget earmarks for these projects is absolutely the right thing to do, but it doesn't actually mean the money will go where it is needed most, namely to fixing our nation's existing roads and bridges. We are particularly disappointed that the money was not redirected to rebuilding transportation infrastructure along the Gulf Coast.

"There are still outstanding ethical issues that have not been addressed. We have voiced concerns about the role that Senator Lisa Murkowski played advocating for the Gravina bridge despite the fact that the project would likely benefit her family personally. Passing the buck onto the State of Alaska doesn't erase those conflict of interest questions. It merely shifts them to her father, Governor Frank Murkowski.

"Given the overwhelming opposition to the idea of wasting federal tax dollars on these projects, state officials would be wise to spend the money prudently. If this ends up being a back door way to pay for the Gravina and Knik Arm bridges, it will amount to a complete betrayal of American taxpayers, not to mention American values."

[MNJohnnie]

BS. Funny how an advocacy group like this can go out and may hysteric clams and the dinosaur Media just reports it as if it were fact yet Free Republic organizes a Support the Troops rally and all the reporting is on the "Conservative organizations organize pro war event".

[Anti-Bubba182]

Didn't a Senator from Alaska threaten to resign from the Senate if they did this?

[blogblogginaway]

"Didn't a Senator from Alaska threaten to resign from the Senate if they did this?"

Yes indeed!!! I think Sen. Coburn should hold him to it!


......Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., a staunch opponent of pork-barrel spending, tried to block $453 million for two Alaska bridges that had been tucked into the recent highway spending bill. Coburn wanted to redirect the money to the Interstate 10 bridge across Lake Pontchartrain, a major thoroughfare that was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, was dramatic in his response: "I don't kid people," he roared. "If the Senate decides to discriminate against our state ... I will resign from this body."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2002574136_spending21.html

[Sonny M]

If I am reading this right, doesn't Alaska still get the money, but now its up to the state on how to use it?

This isn't an improvement then, its just a lateral hand-off and a backdoor way to bringing in pork.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Thanks, that flashed by on the news and I thought it was outrageous since the bridges had so little utility. I hope they don't fund his bridges and if he wants to leave the Senate over that, let him.

[Athwart]

The issue has been particularly controversial for Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) who has served as a strong advocate for the Gravina bridge despite the fact that her family owns 33-acres of undeveloped land 3/4 of a mile from the point where the bridge would touch down.

I'm not sure that "despite the fact that" is quite the right phrase here. Seems more like she should have felt obligated to recuse herself from the vote, under the circumstances.

[tubebender]

This is the same Sierra Clutz that held up the taxpayers for 650 million or so for 3500 acres of Redwood trees called the Headwaters Forest that only a select few can visit while our roads and bridges scream for help...

[blogblogginaway]

Yes. It simply removes the 'earmark'. Alaska will still get the same amt. Actually this was a cowardly act of the Conference Committee. They can make it 'appear' they were against it when they could have shown some courage and out and out voted to remove it from the bill.

[editor-surveyor]

You got it TB! Sierra Club, Hike to he||

[thackney]

The funding is still in place. This would only remove the requirement of how the funds are used. Each State would then be able to use the funds as it deemed most beneficial.