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The End of the Bridge to Nowhere
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ShareSeptember 21, 2007 1:43 PM
ABC News' John Cochran reports: The Bridge to Nowhere is gone. Not the victim of aging frames, bolts and joints. No, this bridge has collapsed, even before it was built, after an onslaught of angry editorials, furious anti-pork citizens groups, and caustic jokes on late night TV.
First, that name. It was not accurate. If built, the bridge would have gone somewhere. It would have replaced the ferry that takes residents of Ketchikan, Alaska (population 8,000) to the local airport on Gravina Island. In 2005, Congress approved $223 million for construction.
In Washington, groups such as Taxpayers for Common Sense and Citizens Against Government Waste, rallied their troops to try to block the money. They said the island was home to far more deer than people (50).
The bridge's main sponsor in the Senate, Alaska Republican Ted Stevens, was outraged by any attempt to prevent his state from getting federal funds. In 2004, with the help of Stevens, his state got special projects worth $645 million. That was $984 for every Alaskan. By contrast, Congress handed out less than $3 to every Texan. And a Texan was, and still is, the President.
But the barrage of publicity was too much for his fellow Republicans. Senator John McCain, R.-Ariz., cited the Bridge to Nowhere as a perfect example of wasteful spending. Senator Tom Coburn R-Okla., a longtime foe of pork spending, tried to shift the money to rebuild an interstate highway damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
Senator Stevens grew even more outraged: "I don't kid people. If the Senate decides to discriminate against our state…I will resign." He did not resign.
An uneasy compromise was reached. Congress took away the money for the Gravina Island bridge and another Alaskan bridge which was almost as controversial. Instead, Congress gave the money to the state with the understanding that it was not required to use the funds specifically for bridges.
Friday, the state of Alaska officially sank the Bridge to Nowhere. Governor Sarah Palin, also a Republican, said "Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport." "But," she said, the bridge "is not the answer." Palin has told state transportation officials to look for the most "fiscally responsible" alternative.
A spokesman for Senator Stevens was not immediately available for comment.
September 21, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (11)
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223 Million down only hundreds of billions more pork to go.
Posted by: waleeg | Sep 21, 2007 4:12:51 PM
But they handed over the cash to Alaska anyway? HOw is that NOT spending the money? It doesn't make any difference to the average tax payer whether or not they build the bridge or burn the cash . . .we're still paying for it, and people think building this bridge is somehow worse than just handing over cash that has not been specifically budgeted? Sad.
Posted by: John | Sep 21, 2007 4:59:50 PM
I am so thrilled that the FBI has conducted a phone tapping sting on the venerable Sen.Stevens, that if you want to see US Senators abandon somebody fast watch this breaking news develop.
Posted by: daddy | Sep 21, 2007 5:34:47 PM
He whines about resigning(like it's a loss) and gets the $223 million for whatever he wants, too much! Yes those republicans are really cutting spending LMFAO!!!
Posted by: Hegel321 | Sep 21, 2007 6:08:27 PM
Alaska already gets $1.80 back in federal tax dollars for each $1.00 paid. Stevens is at least doing his job for his constituents, which is more than I can say for our California reps, since our state only gets back $0.83 for each $1.00 paid. New Jersey has it even worse at $0.65. The biggest question is: what happened to the government serving the GREATER good? I used to work in government and our mantra was the biggest bang for the smallest buck, which apparently Congress has never heard of or more likely, doesn't care. We need term limits; most reps have gotten way too comfortable in their positions of supposed public service.
Posted by: LagunaTriMom | Sep 21, 2007 6:22:18 PM
If Stevens and his other crooked cohorts want to build a bridge so bad, why don't they simply build it and pay for it out of the 34 billion dollar Alaskan oil royalty fund. The citizens of Alaska got almost $667 million back from the fund in 2006. Even taking ten percent from the fund payout each year, they could pay for their own damn bridge in less than four years. They could even make it a toll bridge and even get their own money back, eventually, hummmm, let's see, about 50 people live on that isl.....
Posted by: GC | Sep 22, 2007 12:53:37 AM
This country has got to get EVERY rotten crooked REPUBLICAN out of Washington, starting with the Head Liar and Head Crook in the White House.
This country can not stand four more years of Republicans in Washington.
Posted by: JOE MURPHY | Sep 22, 2007 12:58:30 PM
Right on, Joe!!!
Posted by: James J. Kanzler | Sep 23, 2007 6:22:11 AM
While we're at it, let's get rid of the Dynamic Duo of Pork Barrel Spending:
Ted Stevens and Robert Byrd.
Posted by: carl | Sep 24, 2007 10:21:36 AM
The whine baby senator (Ted Stevens, Ak.) was playing his normal role. Like a child, threatening his fellows in congress with "...if you don't do as I want, I'll resign! Well, the "if" has happened to him. Where are his resignation papers? We don't need grown-up babies in the U.S. Congress. He's pulled this sort of immature stunt many times over during his "service" to America.
Posted by: Bill | Sep 24, 2007 11:32:23 AM
A trip to Bohemian Grove will settle his nerves... just like it has for all the other sleazy politicians who 'toe tap' their way into office. No, I'm not even laughing... I'm throwing up! It will make you sick to learn how they carry-on when they KNOW we can't see or hear what they do there.
Posted by: Shamrock | Sep 24, 2007 2:24:38 PM
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