Posted on 08/09/2007 11:27:12 AM PDT by reprobate
How many other substandard bridges in Republican districts has the democrat-dominated congress been denying funds for replacement? They want to blame Bush for Minneapolis; Democrat Hypocrisy at it’s finest!
Chatham board to discuss how to get money to replace Skidaway Narrows bridge By Larry Peterson Created 2007-08-08 23:30 Funding to replace the substandard Skidaway Narrows bridge will be discussed at Friday's Chatham County Commission meeting.
Faulty spans have attracted sharper scrutiny since a bridge collapse last week in Minneapolis that killed at least five people.
Meanwhile, Skidaway Narrows became a political football this week when a leading local Democrat blamed U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, for lack of federal help. But the Democrat-dominated Congress has twice rebuffed the Savannah Republican's efforts to win funds for the bridge.
Last inspected a year ago, the span was rated at 45 by the state. A rating of 50 or below is considered "structurally deficient."
Built in 1970, it is the only mainland link for Skidaway Island and its more than 9,000 residents. "Do I expect it to collapse and fall in the river?" asked Commissioner Pat Farrell, who placed the item on Friday's agenda. "No. But I'm concerned that it's in poor mechanical condition and has been for a long time. I'd like to bring some more attention to the issue." Several price tags for replacing the bridge - all of them in the millions of dollars - have been mentioned. Budget shortfalls have delayed the project repeatedly. Farrell, whose district includes Skidaway Island, said state Department of Transportation schedules for the project have been "a moving target." He said the answers he has received have changed "almost every time ... I have asked someone." Department spokeswoman Brenda Howard said she is "waiting for an update" on the status of money for the project.
In a related development, Tom Oxnard, president of the Skidaway Island Democrats, has faulted Kingston for lack of federal assistance. However, documents show that since the Democrats won control last year, Congress has twice eliminated funds Kingston sought for the project.
Noting that Kingston serves on the spending-related House Appropriations Committee, Oxnard asked, "Where was he when it came to dishing out money for needed local projects?" "It has been obvious for many years that the bridge needed repairs," Oxnard said. "Why didn't Rep. Kingston get the funds when the GOP ran the entire government?" He noted that Kingston got other southeast Georgia projects included in a spending bill Congress passed last month. "Evidently Mr. Kingston didn't think it important to include the ... bridge," Oxnard said. Last fall, however, a Republican-led Congress included $1.5 million Kingston requested for the project in a 307-page appropriations bill. In January, after the Democrats took over, Congress eliminated individually requested items - called "earmarks" - from members of both parties. Kingston's was one of them. Some money previously earmarked for Georgia projects went to the state, said Harper Lawson, spokesman for U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Savannah.
In March, Kingston again sought money for the project. His letter to Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., did not specify an amount, but spokesman Rob Asbell said Kingston asked for $3 million. No money for the project was included in the bill passed last month, which Kingston voted against. Oxnard, noting that Republicans controlled the White House and Congress from 2001 to 2006, chided Kingston for not acting sooner. "He had six years to put in for Skidaway funds, but perhaps he had other priorities," Oxnard said. Asbell said no one sought Kingston's help in getting money for the project until last year. "Jack Kingston did the most he could," Farrell said.
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Source URL: http://savannahnow.com//node/340557
"Democrat-dominated Congress has twice rebuffed the Savannah Republican's efforts to win funds for the bridge."
I’ve got one adjacent to our property here in the Appalachian Zone. They’ve been trying to get the 35 million to get it done since 1992.
Its a one lane, depression era bridge, with wood flooring, the rest is entirely made of steel.
This is where the government works worst. Instead of there being a process where the rep has to get the money, how about the transportation department comes up with a formula: structure rating x vehicle use and we rate everything according to need. D’uh. That would make sense.
They had the money lined up from the feds, but as soon as the congress changed hands, the cash was taken away because it’s a republican district. Believe, traffic is heavy and this bridge is a disaster waiting to happen.
Georgia is a Red State, DEMS do not like us.
I’d be afraid to drive on anything called Skidaway. :)
bttt
This needs wider distribution. Have forwarded to some non-freepers.
What a great Ga. and the entire South idea for a GOP 11 state campaign ad. “Dems in Congress do not fund bridges, roads. Pubs tried but those Dems just wanted to fund their own pet projects.” The GOP should put these out immediately and flood Talk Radio and the blogs down there. If we find any other states where Dems in charge did not repair, blast them too. A reverse Katria effect might actually show voters that the Dems are the real hypocrites.
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