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February 22, 2010 in City
Corridor ceremony highlights grant, and the politics behind it
Gov. Chris Gregoire, right, and U.S. Sen Patty Murray, center, are joined by Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond at a public event Thursday extolling a federal stimulus grant announced for the north Spokane freeway.
(Full-size photo)
One person was noticeably absent from last week’s gathering to celebrate the announcement of a $35 million federal stimulus grant for the North Spokane Corridor.
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., was not invited to the party.
The Eastern Washington congresswoman had voted against the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that made the money available.
Gov. Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, arranged the ceremony to acknowledge the significance of the project and congratulate the folks who have worked to make it happen.
She and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., flew to Spokane for the event, held on an unopened overpass above Farwell Road near U.S. Highway 2.
Both talked about the importance of moving freight and traffic efficiently.
“This is about economic competitiveness,” Gregoire said.
It was also about political competitiveness.
House Republicans a year ago voted unanimously against the stimulus bill and have been criticizing it as a failed attempt to revive the economy.
Despite that, McMorris Rodgers had sent a letter endorsing the freeway grant application last September.
Then a few weeks ago, she posted a blog entry on her House Web site criticizing the bill and President Barack Obama for failing to stimulate private jobs.
The 106 jobs created by the $35 million freeway grant will come through private contracts for 3.7 miles of paving and bridge construction for southbound lanes from Farwell to Francis Avenue.
Asked why McMorris Rodgers was absent from Thursday’s event, Gregoire replied, “We never thought to ask her since she voted no.”
Democrats clearly enjoyed staking out the high ground on the overpass Thursday.
In her appearance at the microphone, Murray, who is running for re-election, said, “I know a lot of people know like I do that Washington, D.C., is not working these days,” and she promised to work for the “little guy.”
A high-speed route for the North Side will have long-lasting benefits, Murray said, and “it’s going to get our workers back on the job.”
State Rep. John Driscoll, D-Spokane, said in an interview that “if it weren’t for public works, the whole construction industry would be dead.”
McMorris Rodgers was left to explain herself from a distance.
“This is precisely the type of project the government should be funding. I have been a champion for this project since my earliest days in Congress,” she said in a news release.
The stimulus bill, passed largely by Democrats, didn’t put enough money into infrastructure spending and tax cuts, she said.
Murray didn’t buy it.
“I’m getting frustrated with people saying, ‘no, no, no,’ and then asking for money. Being divisive and saying no doesn’t get our country moving again” she said after the ceremony.
Elsewhere, congressional Republicans have been getting hammered for just the same thing – voting no and then asking for stimulus money for their states and districts.
Brad Stark, a Republican and former Spokane city councilman, explained that it is reasonable for McMorris Rodgers to solicit grant money on behalf of constituents regardless of how she voted on the bill, since those constituents will be obligated to support the spending with their taxes.
Others saw it differently.
“It’s entirely hypocritical,” said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
“On one side, you say stimulus is bad, and on the other, you make every effort to get some of that money when nobody is looking,” she said.
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ChefGus/ John Olsen on February 22 at 4:14 a.m.
This one is real real easy… Representative McMorris-Rodgers simply could not arrange for Congressman Boehner to be there to stand behind and smiling her forced smiles..ergo… j
schleufer on February 22 at 5:29 a.m.
the republicans are always painting things as backroom deals, so the idea of them all voting no isnt? its going to be interesting what she is going to say come election time. some will buy it or make excuses….im not one of them.
Ninch on February 22 at 7:24 a.m.
Really stupid bashing of Republicans (and getting really old). Just because the North Spokane Corridor got some money that was packed into the stimulus bill does not mean that the stimulus bill was overall good legislation. Obama should quit lying about the numbers of jobs it created… and most egregious is how over time Obama has changed the benchmark for these jobs so he could claim success. Americans are not as dumb as Obama thinks they are (except for those who continue to deflect real issues by blaming the Republicans). Note: The Democats have been in control of Congress since the 2006 election!!!
actionjackson on February 22 at 8:07 a.m.
I just think it’s even funnier that now that the Democrats DON’T have the
super majority, they suddenly want bipartisanship…..What a bunch of fakes! Tell Ms. Murray to hang up her tennis shoes. She’s being voted out next. She said she’d be there for the people, and all she’s done her whole time in office is vote right down party lines…..So much for “the people!”
MrNatural on February 22 at 9:57 a.m.
Here we have a good economic project for our region and yet there is still condescending remarks. Isn’t this possibly the best activity to foster bipartisanship? Can’t we all just get along on this? Thank you Congresswoman and Governor for working hard to achieve this positive and prosperous freeway project.
Scoutster on February 22 at 10:56 a.m.
It’s pork unless its in your district. Then it’s economic development. Both sides are right on this, but Cathy’s hypocrisy (“I voted against it before I lobbied for it”) makes her look partisan and small.
zelda on February 22 at 11:07 a.m.
That’s a good one, ChefGus. LOL
HankTingler on February 22 at 2:10 p.m.
It should be noted that this Ceremony was announced AFTER Gregoire was in the air.
They also didnt notify anyone that the ceremony was an hour late because the Gov’s plane had to land at Deer Park airport since SIA was fogged in.
I call this the “secret” ceremony where only the insiders were notified. Perhaps because to keep the protestors away?
$35,000,000 divided by 106 is $333,000. This money will go to hire union workers.. and nothing for any of the unemployed, and those needing retraining.
At 1000 cars a day for a year, it is a $100 per car trip.
Another sad Demo-Joke. $35,000,000 could have built two new schools.
How much did this boondoggle cost the Tax Payers?
Chatty Cathy probably wasn’t invited since there was no bag of cash with her name on it from a contractor. She was also too busy with the Washington Policy Center reception at the Davenport. All the local repubs were bowing before her in her honor. Nethercut was unimpressive.
Neither side gets it.
crikey on February 22 at 11:57 p.m.
Coming soon, we have a chance to clean houses - Senate, Congress and states. We must keep our ears and minds open so we can read between their lying lines and vote smart.