Tom Warne Report, 4 November 2011
The U.S. Senate voted on an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations bill this week proposed by Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul, to pay for high-priority infrastructure needs without adding to the national debt. The cost of the projects would be offset by eliminating transportation enhancement dollars spent on beautification projects – including movie theaters, flower beds, turtle tunnels and squirrel sanctuaries. Cutting out beautification projects would create nearly $700 million for the Highway Bridge Program, but the amendment failed, 38-60; with every single Democrat voting against it.
“With nearly 25 percent of our nation’s bridges deemed either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, we need to make their reconstruction a priority over errant beautification projects,” Sen. Paul said. “My home state of Kentucky has two major arteries in need of immediate repair – one bridge has been shut down, the other in desperate need of repair – and thousands more across the country face the same conditions. I am disappointed my colleagues failed to see this as a priority, affecting our entire nation’s infrastructure and commerce through transportation, and were unable to address this issue without adding to our ever-expanding national debt.”