Area lawmakers defend earmarks
Siouxland delegation seeks funding for local projects
By Dave Dreeszen Journal business editor | Posted: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
WASHINGTON -- Two Siouxland lawmakers defended the practice of congressional earmarks Tuesday, describing them as key for securing federal funds for area projects with strong support back home, such as four-laning of U.S. Highways 20 and 35.
Iowa 5th District U.S. Rep. Steve King noted all three presidential candidates, Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, and the two leading Democratic contenders, Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, back legislation that would curb earmarks, the common term for lawmakers slipping pet projects into appropriations bills.
"That means Democrats and Republicans have decided that beating up on earmarks is politically expedient," King told about 70 Siouxland business and government leaders at a Capitol Hill breakfast. "I think we've gone a little bit overboard here."
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said McCain has criticized earmarks to the point "where the common belief they're bad and that you think they're going to raise the cost of government ..." Banning the practice, however, would give "faceless" bureaucrats more authority over spending decisions than elected officials, Nelson said.
"The power of the purse is in Congress, particularly the Senate, so consequently, we're not grabbing something that's not ours" he said. "We're probably sharing with the executive branch to make certain decisions on how money is sent."
King pointed out that earmarks account for a "small percentage of our budget."
"If we got rid of all of them, it really won't help our budget in a meaningful way," he said.
The 5th District congressman said he favors more earmark disclosure, including a procedure that would allow any member of the House to call a vote to approve or reject an individual request.
A Capitol Hill breakfast hosted by King kicked off the 54th annual Washington Conference & Steak Dinner.
King, who has delivered millions of dollars in congressional appropriations in past years to help jump start the four-laning of Highway 20 from Fort Dodge to Sioux City, said he would do all he could to fulfill the local delegation's request this year for $4.5 million for land acquisition and design for the segment of the road running from Iowa Highway 4 to U.S. Highway 71, through Calhoun and Sac counties.
Nelson said he backs northeast Nebraska leaders' request to secure another $2 million for land acquisition and design for a four-laned Highway 35 from South Sioux City to Norfolk.
Among other federal funds being sought by local leaders this week:
-- More than $3 million in Federal Aviation Administration funding to renovate the aging terminal at Sioux Gateway Airport/Col. Bud Day Field. King said he would assist local leaders in obtaining the FAA funds, which would cover 90 percent of project costs in the common areas of the terminal.
-- $1.5 million to help finance the $12 million College Center in South Sioux City. Northeast Community College and Wayne State College formed a partnership to offer higher education classes in the 44,530-square-foot facility, in which about $3.5 million is set to be raised privately.
-- $2 million for the proposed Tri-State Equestrian Center in Moville, Iowa. About $2.4 million is expected to be raised privately for the pavilion, which would host various horse shows. Woodbury County has pledged $850,000 for construction and ongoing operational costs, and the county fair has donated 20 acres as a building site.
The Siouxland Chamber of Commerce-led lobbying trip concludes today with a series of meetings with other members of the tri-state congressional delegation. As usual, the conference culminates with the traditional steak dinner on Capitol Hill.{M7
Fed chairman speaks to delegation
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke addressed the 70-member Siouxland delegation Tuesday.
The hour-long meeting was closed to reporting by the Journal. Local leaders were even advised not to speak to the news media about what Bernanke said.
Bernanke was introduced by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who along with U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, pulled some strings to line up the rare face-to-face session with the Fed chairman.
Iowa 5th District U.S. Rep. Steve King noted all three presidential candidates, Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, and the two leading Democratic contenders, Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, back legislation that would curb earmarks, the common term for lawmakers slipping pet projects into appropriations bills.
"That means Democrats and Republicans have decided that beating up on earmarks is politically expedient," King told about 70 Siouxland business and government leaders at a Capitol Hill breakfast. "I think we've gone a little bit overboard here."
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said McCain has criticized earmarks to the point "where the common belief they're bad and that you think they're going to raise the cost of government ..." Banning the practice, however, would give "faceless" bureaucrats more authority over spending decisions than elected officials, Nelson said.
"The power of the purse is in Congress, particularly the Senate, so consequently, we're not grabbing something that's not ours" he said. "We're probably sharing with the executive branch to make certain decisions on how money is sent."
King pointed out that earmarks account for a "small percentage of our budget."
"If we got rid of all of them, it really won't help our budget in a meaningful way," he said.
The 5th District congressman said he favors more earmark disclosure, including a procedure that would allow any member of the House to call a vote to approve or reject an individual request.
A Capitol Hill breakfast hosted by King kicked off the 54th annual Washington Conference & Steak Dinner.
King, who has delivered millions of dollars in congressional appropriations in past years to help jump start the four-laning of Highway 20 from Fort Dodge to Sioux City, said he would do all he could to fulfill the local delegation's request this year for $4.5 million for land acquisition and design for the segment of the road running from Iowa Highway 4 to U.S. Highway 71, through Calhoun and Sac counties.
Nelson said he backs northeast Nebraska leaders' request to secure another $2 million for land acquisition and design for a four-laned Highway 35 from South Sioux City to Norfolk.
Among other federal funds being sought by local leaders this week:
-- More than $3 million in Federal Aviation Administration funding to renovate the aging terminal at Sioux Gateway Airport/Col. Bud Day Field. King said he would assist local leaders in obtaining the FAA funds, which would cover 90 percent of project costs in the common areas of the terminal.
-- $1.5 million to help finance the $12 million College Center in South Sioux City. Northeast Community College and Wayne State College formed a partnership to offer higher education classes in the 44,530-square-foot facility, in which about $3.5 million is set to be raised privately.
-- $2 million for the proposed Tri-State Equestrian Center in Moville, Iowa. About $2.4 million is expected to be raised privately for the pavilion, which would host various horse shows. Woodbury County has pledged $850,000 for construction and ongoing operational costs, and the county fair has donated 20 acres as a building site.
The Siouxland Chamber of Commerce-led lobbying trip concludes today with a series of meetings with other members of the tri-state congressional delegation. As usual, the conference culminates with the traditional steak dinner on Capitol Hill.{M7
Fed chairman speaks to delegation
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke addressed the 70-member Siouxland delegation Tuesday.
The hour-long meeting was closed to reporting by the Journal. Local leaders were even advised not to speak to the news media about what Bernanke said.
Bernanke was introduced by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who along with U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, pulled some strings to line up the rare face-to-face session with the Fed chairman.
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Concerned Constituent wrote on Apr 24, 2008 7:44 AM:
ineffective he is in acquiring them. Heres the report card for our Iowa
delegation. Senator Grassley brought home $321 Million, Senator Harkin $303 M,
Rep. Lathum $67M, Rep. Loebsack $54M, Rep. Braley $28M, and our Steve King $9M.
Mr. King, why is the 5th District not getting its fair share? And why is a
three term congressman like yourself so ineffective compared to the rest of the
Iowa delegation regardless of whether its a Republican or a Democrat? "
Joe wrote on Apr 23, 2008 5:05 PM:
Johnny Dee wrote on Apr 23, 2008 11:58 AM:
ER wrote on Apr 23, 2008 10:29 AM:
Robert Bottger wrote on Apr 23, 2008 7:08 AM: