October 20, 2005

Rhode Island Politics

Senators Reed and Chafee on the Bridge to Nowhere

Carroll Andrew Morse

I just called the Washington offices of Senator Reed and Senator Chafee to ask about their position on the Coburn amendment, which reallocates funding from Alaska’s $223,000,000,000 $223,000,000 “bridge to nowhere” to the rebuilding of bridges destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

The staffers were very polite and professional, but both offices informed me they couldn’t share the Senator’s position until after the vote was taken.

Is this really how deliberative democracy is supposed to work? Aren’t public officials supposed to make their positions on issues, well, public?

UPDATE:

An aide to Senator Reed just returned my initial call and informed me that she will find out what she can.

9:22 AM
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The "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska cost $223 *billion*????? I would hope that at a minimum those three zeroes at the end were inadvertent and it costs $223 million.

Posted by: AuH2ORepublican at October 20, 2005 10:47 AM

You're right Au20. I think 220B is in the vicinity of the total amount for all earmarked projects. I've noted the correction in the main post.

Posted by: Andrew at October 20, 2005 11:04 AM