The Bridge to Somewhere

[nancylebov]

Remember that story about those very expensive Alaskan bridges which would be paid for through a recent transportation bill, and that Alaska wasn't willing to give the money back for Katrina relief?

The story continues.

Gravina Island (population: 50) is home to one of those $250 million bridges targeted by Coburn's amendment. Alaska's triumverate of greed -- Rep. Dan Young, Gov. Frank Murkowski, and Sen. Ted Stevens -- all say the bridge to Gravina will spur "development." But much of Gravina is protected wilderness. In fact, just a handful of private citizens own land there. One of them happens to be Nancy Murkowski, wife of the governor, and mother of Senator Lisa Murkowski. Nancy Murkowski owns 33 acres on Gravina, valued at about $225,000. I suspect that valuation will soar once the federally-funded bridge is completed, and what little private land exists on the island begins to be eyed by developers. Oddly enough, the Murkowskis neglected to list their Gravina Island property on the financial diclosure forms requried by state law.

Comments

[madfilkentist]

Even Louisiana politicians have been in on the game, diverting Army Corps of Engineers money from flood control to subsidies for barge traffic.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

What's interesting was that the Alaska story is *after* Katrina.

As for the rest, do you think it would have been possible/legal/sensible for the Feds to lean on Louisiana to be more careful with the money/

[(Anonymous)]

As for the rest, do you think it would have been possible/legal/sensible for the Feds to lean on Louisiana to be more careful with the money

Which "feds" would be able to lean on the state's Congressional delegation?

[madfilkentist]

(That was me. Somehow I got logged out without noticing.)

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

If there's bribery involved, isn't there someone at the national level to investigate and prosecute it?

[madfilkentist]

Surely you're aware that pork barrel politics is the standard way of life in Washington. If you prosecuted all the members of Congress who create special subsidies for friends who get them votes, you'd have to open the next session of Congress in federal prison.

Not that this would be a bad thing, but it isn't likely to happen.