October 8, 2010 -- U.S. House Republicans, Boehner and Kline, Call for Eliminating $45 million in Federal Funds to Central Corridor |
For Immediate Release: October 8, 2010 Republicans want to eliminate criminal justice funds for Dakota County, Gateway Corridor funds for Washington County, and $2 million for Minnesota veterans St. Paul, MN – In a letter to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dated October 8, 2010, more than 50 Republicans, including Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. John Kline (R-MN), called for an elimination of congressionally directed projects (earmarks) from any appropriations bills to pass the House following the November 2nd election. The Republican proposal to eliminate these projects from the fiscal year 2011 appropriations bills would reduce federal funding to Minnesota by millions of dollars and cripple vital jobs and infrastructure projects like the Central Corridor LRT between St. Paul and Minneapolis. As Minnesota’s only member of the Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Betty McCollum called the Republican proposal a clear indication of their disdain for federal investments that will create jobs and keep our communities strong and growing. “For Republicans – including a Minnesota Republican – to call for eliminating funding for the Central Corridor earmark and the thousands of jobs will hurt Minnesota and make our state less competitive. Additionally, this proposal cuts earmarked funding for Dakota County criminal justice projects and the Minnesota National Guard’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program – projects that impact my district and my Republican colleague’s district,” McCollum said. Republicans aggressively support adding to the federal debt to make permanent Bush-era tax cuts for the richest 2 percent of Americans costing $700 billion, yet want to eliminate $3 billion in high-impact community investments, which are .17% of the federal budget. This includes projects such as $2 million for the Minnesota National Guard’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Program to assist with support and reintegration for our military personnel and $500,000 for the Dakota County Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative which makes our community safer and saves money for taxpayers. Even worse, this Republican letter unfairly tarnishes the reputations of respected non-profit entities in Minnesota such as Dakota and Ramsey counties, the University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota National Guard by claiming their participation in the earmark process is corrupt and part of a “spoils system.” “It is amazing to me that the same Republicans who defend the corruption of Wall Street CEOs can accuse my neighbors who are honorable public servants, elected officials and community leaders from the Minnesota National Guard, Dakota, Washington and Ramsey Counties of participating in a corrupt process. Congressional appropriations are an open, transparent process, providing real benefits to Minnesota. Minnesotans pay their taxes, but the Republicans want to cheat them of receiving the benefits of their tax dollars. I suggest that these Tea Party Republicans actually read the U.S. Constitution, particularly Article I to learn that Congress has the Constitutional responsibility to fund the government,” said McCollum. Democrats reformed the earmark process inherited from Republicans in 2007 by cutting the number and amount of earmarks funding in half, and instituting new transparency requirements which allows the public to see requests online.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum Central Corridor Light Rail construction Metropolitan Council $45,000,000 Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Life, Health, and Safety Building Improvements Gateway Corridor (Interstate 94) Transit Corridor planning Job Training and Mentoring Program Minnesota Hands and Voices Program Expansion to reach underserved and minority communities - hearing loss early intervention Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiatives Criminal Justice Information Integration Network Children's Physical Therapy Pool Runaway Intervention Project Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) Disease Control and Eradication Program City of Maplewood Gerten Pond Improvements Voyageurs National Park Upper Mississippi River Restoration Infrastructure and Capacity Enhancements Renaissance Box Restoration Historic Preservation and Energy Efficiency Improvements Upper Midwest Industrial Coating Training Program Mille Lacs Regional Dialysis Center Bus acquisition and facilities for Riverview Corridor
Congresswoman Betty McCollum serves on the House Appropriations and Budget Committees.
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