Oberstar, Peterson, McCollum, Walz, Ellison urge governor to apply for federal bridge money

10/02/2007

HometownSource.com | Tuesday, 02 October 2007


Washington DC – Within 48 hours of the I-35W bridge collapse, Congressman Jim Oberstar and Minnesota’s congressional delegation passed legislation to send $250 million in emergency funding to the state. Nearly two months later, the Pawlenty Administration has not asked for those funds to be sent to Minnesota.

“I don’t understand what the governor is waiting for,” said Oberstar. “If the state doesn’t act, they run the risk of losing the money.”

Congressman Oberstar along with Rep. Collin Peterson, Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep Betty McCollum and Rep. Tim Walz sent a letter to Governor Pawlenty expressing their frustration with “Minnesota’s slow response.”

“Minnesota has no formal request pending for Emergency Relief funds,” the letter states. “If the state is does not make a timely submission for Emergency Relief funds, these funds could be allocated to other states prior to Minnesota’s submission.”

The letter also points out that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will have $175 million available for emergency relief with the start of the new federal fiscal year today. Those funds are not subject to the appropriation process. However, other states have made requests from that fund totaling $54 million. FHWA expects another $157 million in additional requests to be made soon.

“It’s time for Gov. Pawlenty to start acting decisively and competently,” said Oberstar. “The money is there, it’s time to get the work under way.”

Oberstar is chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; he says the Pawlenty administration has shown poor leadership on transportation issues. “The legislature gave him a bill that would have made sound investments in our transportation system; he vetoed it. When the I-35W bridge collapsed, he could have called a special session to deal with the crisis and look to our transportation needs, but he didn’t. Now he is failing to ask for money that the state is entitled to; this is incompetence and an abrogation of his responsibility to the people of Minnesota,” said Oberstar.