'Bridge to nowhere' stripped from US funding bill

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2005-11-16T200210Z_01_N16597988_RTRIDST_0_TRANSPORT-BRIDGE.XML

WASHINGTON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Mandatory funding for two controversial bridge projects in Alaska -- including the ridiculed "bridge to nowhere" -- has been stripped from a federal spending bill, a congressional committee said on Wednesday.

In an unusual move to change "pork" spending, House-Senate negotiators removed the $432 million in required spending during final talks on a yearly bill to fund programs for the Transportation and Treasury departments, the House Appropriations Committee said.

As a compromise, Alaska will still receive the money that had been set aside for the bridges to spend as it likes on transportation needs.

Congressional negotiators were under pressure from lawmakers and fiscal watchdogs to address concerns about mandatory spending on pet projects. The bridges had become symbols of egregious spending during an era of record budget deficits.

The quarter-mile $223 million "bridge to nowhere" span got its nickname because it connects the port town of Ketchikan to neighboring Gravina Island, population 50. That and the other $209 million bridge - dubbed "Don Young Way" in Anchorage - could still be built but now must compete with other transportation funding priorities in the state.

...more...

:applause:

This is just more deception by the Republicans who take their examples from their liar-in-chief, Bush.

for roads in roadless areas---how about in that nice Arctic Wildlife Refuge? or Tongass NF?

What does this really accomplish? It doesn't take anything out of the budget -- it just moves it around.

It gives Stevens the cover of not having the specific project in the budget but he still gets to "bring home the money" to Alaska.

What a "compromise."

they cut NOTHING from the bill, just give it to them anyway - bridge to freaking nowhere will still get built

And allows them to claim they're doing something about all the pork.

Super. Reform's moving in world-spanning strides through Congress now, I tell ya!

:eyes:

Typical congressional sleight-of-hand.

He is going to hurt himself or someone else during his temper tantrum.

Stick to your word asshole!

"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.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/22/AR2005102201040.html

...hit you in the ass on the way out.

I'm telling you, Trent Lott is a very smart, self aware, totally evil person who wants the power of the Presidency for himself.

Right now he's second in Senate seniority only to Ted Stevens. If Stevens leaves, Lott rightfully should be President pro tempore in the Senate, which puts him right behind Denny Hastert in line of succession to the Presidency.

If Bush and Cheney both leave at the same time, that leaves Hastert in line of succession. If whatever dirt the GOP already has on Hastert is used to force him to decline the job offer, Lott becomes President, without having to deal with one of those pesky elections he knows he will never win.

We Democrats have to keep in mind that we are still totally powerless. Getting rid of the current Criminals-in-Chief will merely open the door for another Republican, and when we're talking Republican leadership, they are all evil men--and Condoleeza Rice.

"As a compromise, Alaska will still receive the money that had been set aside for the bridges to spend as it likes on transportation needs".

They may not build a bridge to nowhere but I'm sure they have some half-assed projects in the wings just waiting for Federal money.
They canceled the bridge but still gave them the money for it. This is symbolic in nature, they're still going to cut student loans etc. and Alaska will still get the money. :eyes: BFD!

for those 50 residents, how about we just buy them 50 motorboats and save $222 million, give or take.

probably as one of several dozen riders on something completely unrelated to highway spending. Stevens will stay in office until he either croaks or is indicted.

The GOP is corrupt. There is undoubtedly one or more rich developers in the wings, ready to make a packet when access is established to both "sparsely populated areas." Think casino and resort complex.

Pretty symbolic of the whole Republican party actually.

But bridge to nowhere sounds better.

And start a ferry service!

:woohoo:
rocknation

things have a way of being sneaked back into bills when no one is looking.

Bush will invade them next.

Here was my note:

Senator Stevens, you were quoted as saying "I don't kid people," ... "If the Senate decides to discriminate against our state . . . I will resign from this body."

So it has come to pass that the Senate has discriminated against your state.

Are you going to be an honorable man whose words can be trusted or are you going to play the typical Republican hypocrite?

The world is watching, Senator.

Can we trust you to do what you stated?

etc.

for the first time that there may only be a population of 50 permanent residents but is it general knowledge that Ketchikan International Airport is located on the island? One of the concerns is that emergency vehicles cannot get quick access to the airport in the event of a crash.

as it should due to specialized vehicles. It is backed up by a combination of paid/volunteer firefighters. Doesn't seem to have been a high priority.

can't post it, but here's the linkie-poo


found at www.b3ta.com
?big

:evilgrin:

One person's Art

Is another person's pornography

"As a compromise, Alaska will still receive the money that had been set aside for the bridges to spend as it likes on transportation needs."

Spend just as much, toss around just as much pork; but get rid of that label that has had such bad press: 'The bridge to nowhere.'

If you ask me, this Congress is the bridge to nowhere.

Rethugs are lying, thieving ,cheating turds and he is on top of the shit pile.

as the 'Boondoggle Bridge.' It has been one of the major topics on his show for about a week.

WASHINGTON -- After suffering weeks of terrible publicity for spending $452 million on two Alaskan "bridges to nowhere," House and Senate lawmakers decided Wednesday night to drop the bridges but let Alaska keep the money.
The compromise, which Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens revealed Tuesday, erases the federal mandate on how to spend the money. That would leave Alaska free to build the controversial Knik and Gravina bridges or use the funds for other projects.



http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7212893p-7125309c.html

pork project from the get-go, Alaska apparently doesn't need the money (don't they repay residents yearly from their profits?), so why are their coffers being fattened while other needy states have to fight for every last dime?

above)

He screamed at them that he would quit if he didn't get that money. What a whackjob that guy is.

might throw a tantrum.

I say find them guilty for robber baron crimes, throw them in the dungeon hole and let them scream away.

I would like my state to get $432 million to spend however we want with no accountability. How can I make this happen?

Should I suggest that my senators demand an obscene pork barrel project, then compromise by stating that they are willing to have the OPTION to spend it on something else?

the front cover of "Parade" Magazine a few weeks ago. I wrote letters to the entire Florida delegation voicing my opinion.

That's a whole damn lot of money per person. I'm with you, lwfern... what can my state of Michigan do to get that kind of federal money per capita? Our state is literally dying because the federal government refuses to support its manufacturing base... we could use that kind of money, but instead, that money comes from Michigan's pockets and goes into Alaska's pockets. I'm jealous. What gives? Or perhaps a more pertinent question would be, who blows whom?
:grr:

655,435 people in Alaska in 2004, according to the US Census Bureau.

Median household income in Alaska in 1999: $51,571
US average median household income in 1999: $41,994

Persons below poverty level in 1999: 9.4%
National persons below poverty level in 1999: 12.4%

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/02000.html


They appear to be doing far better than average, but I guess that's how it works now. Handouts are fine, so long as they go to the rich.

the rich will see the bulk of these funds, don't you?

Why does this irritate me so?