Infrastructure requests full of pork, critic says
Ξ December 19th, 2008 | → | ∇ Uncategorized |
(CNN) — A report to Congress that requests $73.2 billion to pay for infrastructure projects around the country includes plans for a polar bear exhibit, an anti-prostitution program, a water park ride, zoos, museums and aquatic centers, CNN has found.
The mayors’ proposal requests a $4.8 million polar bear exhibit at the Providence, Rhode Island, zoo.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors went to Capitol Hill earlier this month with a report listing 11,391 infrastructure projects proposed by 427 cities. The mayors claimed the proposal would create 847,641 jobs in 2009 and 2010.
The more than 800-page document is titled "Main Street Economic Recovery: ‘Ready To Go’ Jobs and Infrastructure Projects."
"Our plan calls for investments that will stimulate our economy by quickly creating jobs, fixing our aging and crumbling infrastructure, increasing our global competitiveness, and further reducing our carbon footprint," Miami, Florida, Mayor Manny Diaz said at a news conference last week. Accompanied by other big-city mayors, he held up a copy of the hefty report to stress its importance.
"To reverse the current economic crisis, we must invest wisely. We must invest where we get the greatest return. We must invest in Main Street," said Diaz, who is the president of the mayors’ group.
But a close examination of the projects by CNN shows proposals that go far beyond basic infrastructure plans for roads, bridges and other traditional public works projects.
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Among the many requests is one for a $4.8 million polar bear exhibit at the Providence, Rhode Island, zoo. The zoo’s director said it’s needed to boost attendance.
"I am advocating for the zoo as something that will stimulate the economy in Providence," said Jack Mulvena, director of Roger Williams Park Zoo.
Pete Sepp, vice president of the National Taxpayers Union, said the polar bear exhibit and many of the other proposals in the report are just plain pork.
"To the people supporting them, these proposals aren’t a joke, but to the taxpayers funding them, yes — this will be a joke for them, only they won’t be laughing," Sepp said.
When asked by CNN if he had read the entire report, Diaz said he had "read through a lot of it."
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on February 5th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
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