Why would a House Rep from Alaska want a $10M earmark for Florida?

[babylonsister]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/07/washington/07earmark.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

Campaign Funds for Alaskan; Road Aid to Florida

By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
Published: June 7, 2007

WASHINGTON, June 6 — It is no secret that campaign contributions sometimes lead to lucrative official favors. Rarely, though, are the tradeoffs quite as obvious as in the twisted case of Coconut Road.

The $10 million earmark would help extend Coconut Road.

The road, a stretch of pavement near Fort Myers, Fla., that touches five golf clubs on its way to the Gulf of Mexico, is the target of a $10 million earmark that appeared mysteriously in a 2006 transportation bill written by Representative Don Young, Republican of Alaska.

Mr. Young, who last year steered more than $200 million to a so-called bridge to nowhere reaching 80 people on Gravina Island, Alaska, has no constituents in Florida.

The Republican congressman whose district does include Coconut Road says he did not seek the money. County authorities have twice voted not to use it, until Mr. Young and the district congressman wrote letters warning that a refusal could jeopardize future federal money for the county.

The Coconut Road money is a boon, however, to Daniel J. Aronoff, a real estate developer who helped raise $40,000 for Mr. Young at the nearby Hyatt Coconut Point hotel days before he introduced the measure.

more...

[salin]

1. The arrogance astounds me - no need to try to "hide" the action

DAYS after a fund raiser the unrequested earmarked program gets announced. And as if that isn't enough of giving the appearance of impropriety - THREATS issued to the community/govt when they have chosen not to use the money and build the road. WOW.

Then there is this tidbit from the article: When he was approached near the House floor by a reporter, Mr. Young responded with an obscene gesture.

I hope the Muckrakers at TPM pick up on this story - they have had a good time tracking down stories of other corruption emenating from Alaska.

[babylonsister]

5. Also sounds like the rethug rep from FL is talking out of both sides of

his mouth. I'm so tired of these crooks!:mad:

[liberal N proud]

2. Winter home?

[siligut]

3. Cronyism. nt

[Coexist]

4. Snowbird retreat?

[Nikki Stone1]

6. You know, if you did something like that as an employee of a state or federal agency

you could be fired. But if you're a politician or political appointee, it is ok.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. This is blowing my mind. But not really.

You know, doesn't that make sense? Big time developers are paying ANYBODY to fuck over Florida...because they can. There's so much corruption to be bought in Florida that you can buy it outside of the state.

[UpInArms]

8. blatant corruption - because it's obviously the way for pukes to

behave with other people's money.

[formercia]

9. I smell an indictment. n/t

[intheflow]

10. What is it with Alaskan politicians and pork for roads?

First Ted Stevens, now Don Young. :eyes:

[PinkyisBlue]

11. Has anyone checked Don Young's freezer for cash?

I hear that's a good place to store bribe money these days.

[Morgana LaFey]

12. I dunno, I think the "tradeoffs" have been extremely obvious over

the last number of years. They don't even try to hide it.

[lpbk2713]

13. Fort Myers is also in Krazy Katie Harris' former district.

Some sort of payback involved perhaps??