Citizens Against Government Waste Finds fault with Cycling Pork

Citizens Against Government Waste(CAGW) has announced the release of the 2008 Congressional Pig Book. 

CAGW has been releasing the Pig Book as an expose of the wasteful pork-barrel spending by our leaders in Washington DC for 18 years now.

I scrolled thru the PDF version looking for anything Cycling related so you, dear reader, don't have to. ;-D

Please, Please, there's no need to thank me, honest! ;-D

1. A Project by Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-Mo.):  $551,250 for the Heart of America Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge.

Based on the pictures, and descriptions, here, this seems actually to be money that will be well spent since according to the website, as of 2005 "The Heart of America Bridge can accommodate experienced on-road bicyclists reasonably well in the northbound direction, but not in the southbound direction.

A. A mention in a 2006 article on the website of the Mid-America Regional Council in the Bicycle/Pedestrian Programs Section.

B. Missouri Bicycle Federation Advocacy from 2006.

2. A Project by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.): $686,000 for the Cambridge-Isanti Bike/Walk Trail.

After Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) unsuccessfully attempted in September, 2007 to pass a moratorium on earmarks in the wake of the 35Wbridge collapse in Minneapolis, Chairman Oberstar defended the Isanti Trail, saying “Eliminating important projects that promote tourism and recreational travel will not make up for years of underinvestment in our nation's infrastructure, it will just slow down other segments of the economy.”

A. In Dec. 2004 the Isanti County News wrote about the history of the project, and of Community questions and concerns.

B. Last Sept. the Congressman was only able get the okay for $250,000 in the House Version of a bill.

C. State Sen. Rick Olseen wrote, in October 2007, about "the local and federal partnership involved with the Cambridge-Isanti Bike/Walk Trail, which would increase transportation options in Isanti County, along with providing a safe opportunity for recreation."

D. The State Legislature, in Feb., posted "A bill for an act relating to capital improvements; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds; appropriating money to design and construct the Cambridge-Isanti Trail in Isanti County."

So some State Officials think the trail is a wise investment.

This project provides a safe non-motorized route for students to school, and residents and visitors to travel between the two cities, so what's the problem?.

There are no doubt many more such projects related to bicycling in the full version of the book, for every person who thinks the money is well spent, there are just as many, or more who disagree.

Considering the amount of true CRAP out there that our government officials, Democrat and Republican, from the local, to the county, state, and national level, spend taxpayers money on...I have no problem with much needed, worthwhile, cycling projects getting their share of the funds.