Senator: Earmarks build roads, like new Putnam highway
Presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain "cries and moans about congressional earmarks," but doesn't understand why they're necessary, Sen. Robert C. Byrd said Friday at a ceremony to open part of the new U.S. 35 - a road primarily funded by earmarks.
SCOTT DEPOT - Presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain "cries and moans about congressional earmarks," but doesn't understand why they're necessary, Sen. Robert C. Byrd said Friday at a ceremony to open part of the new U.S. 35 - a road primarily funded by earmarks.
"He whines that earmarks are an abuse of federal funds," Byrd said of McCain. "He doesn't come from a state where it costs on average $25 million per mile to build roads, and he doesn't understand that the world is simply not flat."
Friday, Oct. 10, 2008 - Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., and Gov. Joe Manchin (left) prepare to cut a ribbon stretched across new U.S. 35 at the Crooked Creek exit of I-64 on. Thomas J. Smith, head of the Federal Highway Administration is at right.
Friday's ceremony celebrated the opening of 2.1 miles of U.S. 35 connecting Interstate 64 to W.Va. 34. Its construction is part of a longer-term project to expand 34 miles of U.S. 35 through Mason and Putnam counties from two lanes to four.
"It has never been easy to secure federal funds for the building of highways in West Virginia," Byrd said. "Our beautiful mountains that we love so much also make it costly and difficult to build modern highways."
Many in Washington D.C. do not understand why the state needs better highways, the West Virginia Democrat said. "They just don't get it."
Byrd, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has long been a target for anti-earmarks groups and has been dubbed "The Prince of Pork" for the millions of dollars he has funneled to West Virginia. He has reveled in their derision.
Other political leaders also spoke Friday. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said expanding U.S. 35 has been her "holy grail" since taking office in 2000.
She said the two-lane highway is one of the most dangerous in the state.
"The project is long overdue," she said. "Folks have been very patient."
In 2006, there were 147 accidents, with one person killed, on U.S. 35. The highway is a throughway for freight trucks. Its straight, flat stretches encourage speeding, and with only two lanes, the route is too narrow to handle the heavy tractor-trailer traffic that can endanger smaller vehicles.
SCOTT DEPOT - Presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain "cries and moans about congressional earmarks," but doesn't understand why they're necessary, Sen. Robert C. Byrd said Friday at a ceremony to open part of the new U.S. 35 - a road primarily funded by earmarks.
"He whines that earmarks are an abuse of federal funds," Byrd said of McCain. "He doesn't come from a state where it costs on average $25 million per mile to build roads, and he doesn't understand that the world is simply not flat."
Friday's ceremony celebrated the opening of 2.1 miles of U.S. 35 connecting Interstate 64 to W.Va. 34. Its construction is part of a longer-term project to expand 34 miles of U.S. 35 through Mason and Putnam counties from two lanes to four.
"It has never been easy to secure federal funds for the building of highways in West Virginia," Byrd said. "Our beautiful mountains that we love so much also make it costly and difficult to build modern highways."
Many in Washington D.C. do not understand why the state needs better highways, the West Virginia Democrat said. "They just don't get it."
Byrd, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has long been a target for anti-earmarks groups and has been dubbed "The Prince of Pork" for the millions of dollars he has funneled to West Virginia. He has reveled in their derision.
Other political leaders also spoke Friday. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said expanding U.S. 35 has been her "holy grail" since taking office in 2000.
She said the two-lane highway is one of the most dangerous in the state.
"The project is long overdue," she said. "Folks have been very patient."
In 2006, there were 147 accidents, with one person killed, on U.S. 35. The highway is a throughway for freight trucks. Its straight, flat stretches encourage speeding, and with only two lanes, the route is too narrow to handle the heavy tractor-trailer traffic that can endanger smaller vehicles.
The expansion also will help the local and state economy, Capito said.
Putnam County Commissioner Stephen Andes said several developers interested in land around the Interstate 64 connector have contacted the county's business authority.
The U.S. 35 corridor is expected to cost about $703 million. About $453 million has been spent or committed to the project. Thirteen miles of the corridor in Mason County remain unfunded.
Gov. Joe Manchin said the state will look to other funding sources besides the federal government to complete the corridor.
"We're capable of helping ourselves," he said.
Investing in state highways, particularly U.S. 35, is an investment, Manchin said - "one of the best in the state."
The federal government is facing difficult times, the governor said, but with continued development, the state "would be better poised to come out of this with more opportunities than any other state in the nation."
Byrd didn't sound ready to stop trying to get federal money for the project.
"Time and again, I have had to fight the Bush administration and its supporters in the Congress to ensure that West Virginia is not left out when it comes to safer roads and bridges," he said. "That is why I have had to rely on earmarks to acquire the necessary federal money to build West Virginia roads."
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Posted By: justthefacts(3:06pm 10-15-2008)
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West Virginians against Sen. Byrd would be like lepers against Mother Theresa. Next thing I expect to hear is what a wonderful President George Bush has been. Lord help us.
Posted By: southernfreedom1861(8:03am 10-14-2008)
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Ask Pierce what he thinks of old politicians.
Posted By: T Hupp(2:40am 10-14-2008)
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Dragon Lady is so very right.The Senator has lost his wife of decades,is elderly,probably does not feel all that great most of the time - could have retired - but he still gets up - and stands up - for West Virginia every day.
Posted By: southernfreedom1861(5:29pm 10-13-2008)
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Pierce, I'm also awaiting your latest response on the union thread.
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