U.S. Senate candidate Dick Zimmer’s “Waste of the Week” campaign this week targets Senator Frank Lautenberg’s support of federal funding for a needless intersection in Joplin, Missouri.
Senator Lautenberg supported a $5,880,000 earmark in the 2006 Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill to build a large interchange at a the scarcely used intersection at Zora Street and Main Street in Joplin, Missouri. (Conference Report 109-307 to HR 3058, agreed to on November 21, 2005)
In a town of only about 50,000 residents, many felt this was an unnecessary project to begin with. One resident said, “They claim they are building this interchange to cut down congestion. There is no congestion. This is a deserted area in a small town.” (Citizens Against Government Waste, 2006 Pig Book)
Zimmer issued the following statement:
“At a time when New Jersey taxpayers are being asked to pay steeply higher tolls to finance New Jersey highways, Senator Lautenberg has being working to show the Show-Me State the pork. "
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Senator criticized for support of Joplin interchange earmark
The opponent of Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. is criticizing the senator for his support of a Joplin interchange earmark:
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2 comments:
Amen! This whole "Rangeline Bypass" has been a complete waste of money. We already had a bypass once work was completed on 71 Hwy around Carthage and then hooked up with I-44. Once people who regularly drive 71Hwy realized that they could avoid Joplin's Rangeline and the mapping systems caught up with directions, Joplin had to do something to keep those north-south travelers somewhat close to Joplin. What a big waste of our money. This was done for no other reason than to placate Joplin business and political leaders. By the way, I thought it was interesting in the Globe earlier this week when talking about 249 that a statement was made saying how when the 249 interchange at Carterville was opened next month that Carterville and Webb City would have an uninterrupted 4 lane to Arkansas. How stupid! They already had uninterrupted 4 lane they just had to travel down Rangeline.
Trent, dude, Uninterrupted as in no stoplights. Range Line is a rolling parking lot and U.S. 71 is 10 miles east of Range Line. Not exactly a bypass.
I find it interesting that these kinds of projects are always a "waste of money" if they are spending the money in someplace hundreds of miles away. I don't see this guy criticizing any earmarks made to New Jersey projects. Oh no, there are very good reasons for all of those, I'm sure.
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