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Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Politics as Usual
The Hill reports today about some border-line shady behavior from Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) related to his earmark requests in the 2005 transportation bill. Turns out the earmark request Kanjorski submitted to build a parking garage at, of all places, the Kanjorski Cetner (pictured above) did not meet federal guidelines. From The Hill:
The Department of Transportation is refusing to move forward on an earmark backed by Rep. Paul Kanjorski (Pa.), the rare House Democrat facing a tough reelection this fall.
Transportation (DoT) is blocking funds to build a $5.6 million parking garage to the Kanjorski Center, which was constructed to attract economic development in the city of Nanticoke in Kanjorski's Eastern Pennsylvania district. Kanjorski's earmark for the project was included in the 2005 transportation bill.
DoT contends the garage does not meet federal rules intended to spur the use of public transportation. Those rules allow federal funds for parking garages only if they are connected to other public transportation facilities outside a business area with a population of 50,000 or more, or if it serves high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs) and public mass transportation passengers.
Turns out this isn't an isolated incident for Kanjorski. The Department of Transportation has "taken exception to more than 20" of his transportation earmarks over the last couple of years. And local leaders and Democratic party officials aren't that happy with some of the optics of Kanjorski's ties to the beneficiaries of his earmark requests.
But Kanjorski's family ties to some of the groups that have benefited from his earmarks have stirred criticism and animosity among local Democratic officials.
While I'm hoping that recent transparency reforms and a continued focus on developing a more accountable government will eventually bear fruit, this looks like more politics as usual.
The Hill: Big earmark headache for Rep. Kanjorski
Posted by Adam Hughes
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