Petrelis Files

AK "$231M Bridge to Nowhere" Rep Wanted More Money for Congestion

Government waste watchdogs have been howling about all the fat in the $286 billion highway transportation bill passed back in late July, and editorials across the land have called on lawmakers who inserted pork into the bill for the home districts and states to return some of the money, if only to help pay for Katrina disaster relief.

Everyone cites GOP Alaska Rep. Don Young's success in securing $941 million for his state's transit needs, in particular the $231 appropriated for Don Young Way, a bridge to nowhere that will serve about, oh, 50 people in Ketchikan, as a prime cut of pork.

But that bit o' pocket change just isn't enough for Young. He actually wanted more money for transportation projects in Alaska.

After Congress passed the highway bill, Young's office issues a release hailing his work and discussing funding levels, that just weren't satisfactory to the sole representative for Alaska in the House.

“This is not the funding level that I wanted, but this funding level will help boost our economy. This is a jobs bill that will put America back to work and [...] these funds will help to curb our ever growing congestion problems and meet the need of some of our infrastructure challenges,” said Congressman Young.

To be honest, I'm not the least bit surprised a Congressmember is effective at bringing home the bacon, or that he feels the large pot of money he did secure could have been higher.

What does shock me is that Rep. Young believes there are "congestion problems" in Alaska. C'mon, Congressman, how bad are the traffic jams in your state and couldn't they be solved by just waiting a few minutes for the bears, moose and caribou to cross the road?