Compa$$ion

Apparently those compa$$ionate conservative Republicans are compa$$ionate about “pork” as well. And the highway spending bill is pure “pork”. The Republican Senate is planning to increase (by $11 billion) the $284 billion maximum that was approved by the Republican House. That bill contains a record number (3,800) of projects designed to benefit a member’s district and only a member’s district. Graffiti-elimination plans, snowmobile trails, tourist sidewalks and trolleys, parking garages, and even a national Packard museum are included in the bill. One $200 million project would create a span almost the size of the Golden Gate Bridge for 50 residents of Gravina Island in Alaska. That’s the compa$$ionate work of Representative Don Young, the Alaska Republican, who as chairman of the Transportation Committee has earmarked 39 projects worth $722 million for his state. Mr. Young is already famous for his "bridges to nowhere” and is known by the nickname of “Mr. Concrete.” What a legacy!

You would think that a highway spending bill would contain some money for highways and maybe a plan or two to reduce our dependence upon foreign oil. Sorry, but the compa$$ionate conservatives spent most of the money on their own projects before they could get to those things. Since this bill is a six year spending bill, we only have to wait 6 or more years to get another chance to find some funds for highway improvements and public transportation.