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Michigan City Turns Down Millions of Dollars, Saying Federal Money Is Not Free
New York Times ^ | 12/23/2011 | By JOHN SCHWARTZ

Posted on 12/23/2011 4:50:42 PM PST by SeekAndFind

Water flows uphill.

A city turns down $8.5 million in federal grant money.

In what could be a new high water mark of anti-Washington sentiment, the city of Troy, Mich., is rejecting a long-planned transportation center whose construction would have been fully financed with federal stimulus money.

The terminal, which would help Troy become a transportation node on an upgraded Detroit-to-Chicago Amtrak line, was hailed by supporters as a way to create jobs and to spur economic development. But federal money is federal money, so with the urging of the new mayor, who helped found the local Tea Party chapter, the City Council cast a 4-to-3 vote this week against granting a crucial contract, sending the project into limbo.

“There’s nothing free about government money,” Mayor Janice Daniels said in an interview. “It’s never free, and it’s crippling our way of life.”

Other Republican officeholders have said “Thanks, but no thanks” to federal money for high-speed rail: Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin rejected an $810 million federal grant to extend passenger rail from Milwaukee to Madison; Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey killed a project to dig a new commuter rail tunnel under the Hudson River. But those actions have generally involved criticism of the underlying logic of the projects, or projections of enormous costs to be borne down the line by state and local governments.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Illinois; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: chicago; detroit; federal; illinois; michigan; troy
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To: cripplecreek

Wasn’t that the way it always was? Communities took care of their own needs rather than relying on the federal government. I hope this trend continues.


21 posted on 12/27/2011 6:58:33 PM PST by cradle of freedom (Long live the Republic !)
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To: cradle of freedom

Things have gotten ridiculous and its time for individuals and communities to take a stand.

I’ve been going to village council meetings and trying to come up with ways of saving township money. For instance, our township pays over $100,000 per year for less than a dozen streetlights in the entire 32 square miles of the township. 5 of those lights are here in town and the rest are at remote crossroads. I think we could convince a few people around town to put up poles with lights and let the ones in the country go. I also think we would be better off plowing our own streets here in town rather than paying the county.


22 posted on 12/27/2011 7:21:14 PM PST by cripplecreek (Stand with courage or shut up and do as you're told.)
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To: equaviator

In my opinion, Ruth Johnson was the real gem of the 2010 election.


23 posted on 12/27/2011 7:22:59 PM PST by cripplecreek (Stand with courage or shut up and do as you're told.)
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To: cripplecreek

Does you town have a senior citizens’ center? This seems like another LBJ scheme to take away more of our tax dollars while expanding the Dem patronage system which brings them an ever growing number of government employees and campaign donations.


24 posted on 12/27/2011 7:29:41 PM PST by cradle of freedom (Long live the Republic !)
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To: cripplecreek
He got into an argument with JimRob and stomped off never to return.

I thought JimRob zotted him after he mouthed off.

25 posted on 12/27/2011 7:33:14 PM PST by Grizzled Bear (No More RINOS!)
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To: cradle of freedom

There are only about 150 people in my town so there is no senior center to speak of. I know there are a lot of people who would like to do away with townships so the counties and states can have greater control.


26 posted on 12/27/2011 7:44:24 PM PST by cripplecreek (Stand with courage or shut up and do as you're told.)
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To: cripplecreek

Isn’t that related to Agenda 21?


27 posted on 12/27/2011 7:54:11 PM PST by cradle of freedom (Long live the Republic !)
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To: cradle of freedom
Isn’t that related to Agenda 21?

I would say so. I know they have big plans for the land around here.

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28 posted on 12/28/2011 4:17:02 AM PST by cripplecreek (Stand with courage or shut up and do as you're told.)
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To: cradle of freedom

Does you town have a senior citizens’ center...Ours does. It’s called the American Legion and doesn’t cost the taxpayers a damn dime.


29 posted on 12/28/2011 4:41:24 AM PST by Safetgiver (I'd rather die under a free American sky than live under a Socialist regime.)
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To: Safetgiver

Our town does have a senior center but you are right there are other gathering places where people can come together without costing the taxpayers a dime.


30 posted on 12/28/2011 12:28:49 PM PST by cradle of freedom (Long live the Republic !)
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To: cripplecreek

It’s a good start.


31 posted on 12/29/2011 1:17:20 PM PST by equaviator ( "There's a (datum) plane on the horizon coming in...see it?")
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To: FrdmLvr

He is great.

Second, the last thing Troy needs right now is for those in Detroit to have the ability to travel to Troy and end up causing havoc and committing crimes there. I mean, really, Troy would end up with a skyrocketing crime rate once Detroiters start being able to easily go there.


32 posted on 01/03/2012 6:35:59 PM PST by Niuhuru (The Internet is the digital AIDS; adapting and successfully destroying the MSM host.)
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