OK, did she or did she not "give back" the Bridge To Nowhere money?

[mwb970]

A friend sent me a link to this item, which appeared in Alaska Business Monthly, June 1, 2007:

While work is moving ahead on the Knik Arm Crossing, things are progressing more slowly on the Gravina Island Access project. "Basically, DOT's official position on this project is that we will not move ahead with the bridge structure until someone identifies and comes up with the money to build it," said MacKinnon of the project which is expected to cost between $300 million to $400 million. While a number of alternatives have been offered, the preferred alternative for the project is a set of two spans crossing from Revillagigedo Island to Pennock Island, with a second bridge crossing to Gravina Island.

In 2005, Congress pulled back on these earmarked projects, and only $91 million of federal funds was left for the Gravina project in the state's FY07 capital budget. "There was still an earmark left for Gravina Island approach roads, which could not be used for anything else, so DOT has gone ahead and begun earthwork and road construction to expand access to lands on Gravina Island," said MacKinnon. In 2007, the state awarded Kiewit Pacific a $25.7 million contract to build the Gravina Island Highway, a 3.2-mile gravel road ending near the west channel. The project is expected to be completed in 2008.

http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-6703313/A-season-in-flux-projects.html

It says Congress, not Palin pulled back on the earmark projects, so I don’t know if she’s the one who said “No thanks” or if Congress changed its mind about the earmarks… (I’ve seen both being reported)

[Eric J in MN]

1. Congress never allocated enough money to build that bridge.

It would have if it were up to Sarah Palin.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/30/palin-wanted-nowhere-bridges/

[jaxx]

2. She was for it before she was against it.

[crispini]

3. It's my understanding that the earmark was removed,

and she kept the money (LOL) but I'm sorry I can't find a link.

[Eric J in MN]

4. Link to Think Progress

Sarah Palin said:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/30/palin-wanted-nowhere-bridges/

"Yes. I would like to see Alaska’s infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now–while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."

That assistance never materialized. When she finally canceled the $400 million project, Palin lamented the fact that Congress was not more forthcoming with federal funding. She said in a statement at the time:

"Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it’s clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island."

[mwb970]

5. Does this story shed any light on things?

Two 'Bridges to Nowhere' Tumble Down in Congress by Carl Hulse
(New York Times, November 17, 2005)

Congressional Republicans decided Wednesday to take a legislative wrecking ball to two Alaskan bridge projects that had demolished the party's reputation for fiscal austerity. Straining to show new dedication to lower spending, House and Senate negotiators took the rare step of eliminating a requirement that $442 million be spent to build the two bridges, spans that became cemented in the national consciousness as "bridges to nowhere" because of the remote territory and small populations involved.

The change will not save the federal government any money. Instead, the $442 million will be turned over to the state with no strings attached, allowing lawmakers and the governor there to parcel it out for transportation projects as they see fit, including the bridges should they so choose.

(snip)

Budget watchdog groups celebrated the reversal. "Instead of forcing taxpayers to buy a pair of boneheaded bridges, money would be freed up for much more important Alaskan transportation priorities," said Jill Lancelot, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. Representative Flake of Arizona, who wants a 10 percent across-the-board cut in the highway bill, said he and other lawmakers in the House and Senate would continue to press for all of the earmarks in the bill to be eliminated.

"We ought to do away with $24 billion worth, not just one bridge," said Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona.

The more I read about this, the more confused I get! What was Palin's role? Did she really say, in effect, "thanks, but no thanks" as she has claimed?

[crispini]

6. LOL. Excellent.

So, basically, Palin was pro-bridge, and it wasn't even HER undoing of the earmark! :rofl: Congress did it! AND ALASKA GOT THE MONEY ANYWAY.

That's priceless. :kick: