While in Congress, JD Hayworth sent out a press release bragging about his ability to bring home the bacon! And boy did he…to the tune of over $445,000,000. Yep, that is millions. This must have been before “the scales were removed from his eyes” allowing him to see the true effects of wasteful Washington spending and to become a consistent conservative.
July 29, 2005
Hayworth District’s Transportation Priorities Big Winners In Latest
Authorization Bill
Congressman Steers ‘Earmarked’ Funds Back Home To AZ
- $3.2 million project from 40th Street to Baseline in Maricopa County; for the design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of an I-10 widening
- $2.4 million for the design and construction of the Rio Salado Pedestrian Bridge in Tempe;
- $2.09 million the new ASU Scottsdale Center for New Technology and Innovation at the intersection of Scottsdale and McDowell roads; to plan design and construct a transit passenger center in Scottsdale to serve
- $5.4 million over four years to construct the East Valley Metro Bus facility in Tempe; and
- $434.4 million through 2009 for the Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Transit Project
Among the pork” projects…a bridge to go over the now dry Tempe Town Lake:
The Town Lake Pedestrian Bridge will connect existing bike and pedestrian paths on the north and south sides of Tempe Town Lake, allowing those who continue on the north bank to access the Indian Bend Wash without having to interface with motor vehicles. Those who cross from north to south will be able to link with the Mill Avenue District. This bridge will create a much safer transportation route for runners, walkers, bicyclists and those who use wheelchairs.” (City of Tempe Website, www.tempe.gov, Accessed 5/6/10)
After funds for the bridge were approved in the 2005 Transportation Reauthorization Bill, “The Bridge” was derided as wasteful pork barrel spending, and even compared to the infamous “Bridge To Nowhere”. It got plenty of attention, not so good attention.
The Arizona Republic’s Robert Robb Asked, “Why, Pray Tell, Is It A Federal Responsibility To Build … A Footbridge To Connect Trails Across The Western Bank Of Tempe Town Lake?” “There’s a tradition of pointing to the earmarks in other states as pork. But the real issue isn’t pork. It’s the federal government doing something that should be a state or local responsibility. And you don’t have to look beyond the borders of Arizona for a multitude of examples. Why, pray tell, is it a federal responsibility to build a bicycle-pedestrian bridge at McDowell Road and 35th Avenue in Phoenix, or a footbridge to connect trails across the western bank of Tempe Town Lake?” (Robert Robb, “Republicans Snap Open Taxpayer Wallets Again,” The Arizona Republic, 8/5/05)
In 2008, The East Valley Tribune Editorialized That …Tempe Should Reject Federal Funding For The Bridge, Comparing It To The Infamous “Bridge To Nowhere” In Alaska. “Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is now well-known for having once supported what has been called the ‘bridge to nowhere,’ a $400 million proposal for a structure that, if Congress had funded it, would have given about 50 Alaskans on one island road access to a more populated one that is currently reached by a short ferry ride. In the face of this, Tempe city officials might be persuaded to do, regarding a bridge of their own, a similar about-face to the one the Republican vice-presidential nominee did.” (Editorial, “Tempe Should Take A Pass On Bridge Funds,” East Valley Tribune, 9/14/08
The East Valley Tribune’s Le Templar Pointed Out That While The “Bridge To Nowhere” Was Costlier Than The Tempe Bridge, “The Principle Is The Same.” “The Tribune Editorial Board noted today an interesting parallel between the Alaskan issue and a proposed pedestrian bridge over Tempe Town Lake that will be funded mostly from federal dollars set aside in highway funding bills. The scale of the two projects certainly were different ($400 million for the Ketchikan bridge vs. $5.7 million for the Tempe bridge). But the principle is the same, isn’t it?” (Le Templar, “Will Hallman Say ‘No Thanks’ To Tempe Bridge?,” East Valley Tribune (Blog), 9/15/08)
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Templar Noted That While Republican J.D. Hayworth “Was The Bridge’s Primary Champion,” The Bridge Represented The Kind Of “Pork-Barrel Spending” That Another Republican, John McCain, Railed Against. “Still, Arizona Sen. John McCain has built his campaign for president, in part, on his absolute refusal to seek pork-barrel spending that the Tempe bridge seems to represent. (Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., was the bridge’s primary champion.)” (Le Templar, “Will Hallman Say ‘No Thanks’ To Tempe Bridge?,” East Valley Tribune (Blog), 9/15/08)
McCain is “Maverick” again, spelled DEMOCRAT, as he suddenly distances himself from his stated party, fellow Republicans, and the serious issue of freebie citizenship for children of illegals. Confident he’s surfing to re-election, he’s going to be senatorial and “have hearings” to “discuss” border security. Code: “later” as in “never.”
Gosh, pretending to be a Republican must have wore him out. He can’t even hold up the pretense thru next week.
All those years in the Senate – McCain has attacked the 1st & 2nd Amendment, supported amnesty, supported Cap & Tax, fallen & supported the global warming hoax, walked with the Dems, shady deals behind closed doors, Keating 5, cozy up with his convicted bundler, chose lying over standing for truth, stabbed us in the back over & over again. I will NEVER vote for McCain again! Doesn’t matter if a Dem wins, becuase if McCain wins the primary – there will be 2 Dems on the ballot. Ah the ruling class loves their power to hell with We the People & USA.
Molly,
How convenient that you didn’t show the entire press release which states,
July 29, 2005
Hayworth District’s Transportation Priorities Big Winners In Latest Authorization Bill
Congressman Steers ‘Earmarked’ Funds Back Home To AZ
WASHINGTON- Motorists in U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth’s congressional district paying 18.4 cents per gallon in federal gasoline taxes on top of soaring fuel prices are going to get some of that money back through the transportation spending plan approved today in the House by a vote of 412-8.
Rep. Hayworth was able to earmark millions of dollars in the bill for specific projects in his district, as requested by local elected officials and state transportation officials. Among them:
$3.2 million for the design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of an I-10 widening project from 40th Street to Baseline in Maricopa County;
$2.4 million for the design and construction of the Rio Salado Pedestrian Bridge in Tempe;
$2.09 million to plan design and construct a transit passenger center in Scottsdale to serve the new ASU Scottsdale Center for New Technology and Innovation at the intersection of Scottsdale and McDowell roads;
$5.4 million over four years to construct the East Valley Metro Bus facility in Tempe; and
$434.4 million through 2009 for the Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Transit Project.
“The vitality of our region’s economy is linked directly to the expansion of our transportation network,” Congressman Hayworth said. “These projects add vital links to that network and ensure the continued growth and well-being of the people, businesses, and communities they serve.”
In addition to earmarked projects in some other Arizona congressional districts, the bill authorizes $41.3 million for other Arizona Department of Transportation priority projects. The legislation provides $286.5 billion of funding for the Federal highway programs through fiscal year 2009.
I have to wonder which local elected officials made these requests? The good thing is that for a brief moment, Arizona didn’t play the role of a donor state sending all our tax dollars to the leftist states to be used on social engineering programs.
The bill that all this took place in was called “The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users” or H.R.3. Amazingly, the roll call vote on it was 412-8-14. Renzi, Franks and Hayworth voted for it. Shadegg & Flake voted against it. In the Senate, McCain and Kyl voted against it.
Is it any wonder why Arizonans wonder what John McCain has done for Arizona?
One other comment. I’m willing to bet all those “local elected officials” can be nowhere to be found at the present. They’ve probably scattered to the wind of cut a deal with Team McCain on something else. Cowards.
It’s interesting that if if Mr. Hayworth is so far beyond in the polls…why do the attacks continue against him by McCain?
That’s because McCain internal tracking polling (done daily) show JD gaining.
azcowpoke1,
You have an excellent point! Why would McCain have transferred ANOTHER $3 Million from the Presidential fund to his Senate campaign fund if he wasn’t afraid of losing.
I find it stunning that an incumbent of 28 years has spent $20 Million to turn around and attack his challenger in order to keep “his” seat. It’s unheard of and probably has set a new record in campaign finance history. How ironic that “Mr. Campaign Finance Reform” has resorted to the lowest common denominator by violating his own ethics to save his political hide.
I sure McCain keeps spending money here in Arizona attacking JD. Everywhere we go, the voters have become so disgusted with him. The more money he spends, the more disgusted and turned off they become. More money!
I guess we’ll find out in a few days what “the people” really think.
The people I talk to are glad that McCain is spending money to defeat Hayworth.
The defense of the use of earmarks, only when it benefits you, is true hypocrisy. The defense of everything you stand against simply because you have chosen one candidate over another shows a lack of character.
Character matters. Character will win in this case. The cost? Priceless.
I second everything Kathy says in post #2. If I had my drothers we would not have Federal Highway Bills, the money would be collected directly by and spent by state and local governments. However, since we do spend federal money in this inefficent matter, our representatives have a RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that Arizona gets it fair share of OUR tax dollars returned to them in the forms of these projects that the local governments have determined was necessary. Because of grandstanding by McCain, on what amounts to ONE PERCENT of our budget, the entire state loses. I’m all for principles, but why are we spending trillions to bail out banks, mortgage companies, auto companies, etc which were all supported by our senior senator. A little more consistency and a little less McGrandstanding please!
What has John McCain ever done for Arizona,
other than helping arrange land swaps that benefit his big money supporters ?
He consistently crosses over the asle to work with Democrats against Republican principals but how many Democrats came across the asile to support his bogus
“10 point bogus boder plan”?
The same answer applies for both questions
NO,NOTHING, ZIP …….
John never brings home the bacon for Arizona but helps his friends and Democrats get the entire pig.
Get a screen shot of these posts Molly. They will be useful later.
Note: The SA Loons are full square for earmarks.
Consistent Conservatives or Convenient Conservatives.
The answer is above.
Funny you mention public sentiment Travis. Everywhere I have been in this state over the last eight months, I have yet to find anyone who will vote for McCain let alone who can stand him! The logic of “Mr. Campaign Finance Reform now spending $20 MILLION to fend off a conservative challenger reconciles with McCain’s numbers being bad.
Yes, we will see if McCain can lie and buy another election.
Don’t worry, I’m not going away. I’ve made it part of my life’s work to make sure McCain is challenged every step of the way.