No bridges to nowhere in Nebraska

It is unfortunate that when earmarks are discussed, the image of the infamous Alaska Bridge-to-Nowhere comes to mind. What should come to mind is the crumbling infrastructure of America and the need to replace **Bridges-to- Somewhere.

One such bridge crosses the Missouri River into Rulo. This 70-year-old bridge is too narrow for many large vehicles and is substandard. The National Bridge Inventory rates it at 48.6. Bridges with rankings below 50 are candidates for replacement.

Earmark Funds Public Safety

Replacing that bridge is a public safety issue, but where do you get the money? The answer can be found in what critics call "pork," which is actually federal funding "earmarked" by a Member of Congress, working with local officials, to build a specific and worthy project.

In less populated states like Nebraska, there just aren't enough people to fund all the needed projects like the Rulo Bridge, so officials look to Washington for help. Problem is, Washington bureaucrats are more inclined to build a bridge in a big state than they are in a less populated state.

That's where Members of Congress come in. We are often able to direct some funding to worthy projects. Working with constituents in the Rulo area, that is just what I did for the Rulo Bridge. It is scheduled to be replaced with $1.2 million of the cost coming from an earmark in the Omnibus spending bill that just became law.

Earmarks Benefit Nebraska

Here's a quick summary of some of the projects that will be funded by earmarks I was able to obtain for Nebraska in the Omnibus bill: Nebraska Hospital Association to improve quality and access to health care, Northeast Community College to equip their new comprehensive nursing facility allowing students to pursue 2 year and 4 year nursing degrees in addition to master's and doctoral programs, waste water treatment facilities in Lincoln, sewer separation in Omaha, and Nebraska Community Foundation to provide technical economic development assistance to rural towns. There's also money for a USDA - Agricultural Research Service facility on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, prevention and treatment for METH addiction across the state, a job-training center in Lincoln, after school programming in the City of Omaha, and many more projects that are good for Nebraskans.

Log onto my website, www.bennelson.senate.gov, and click on earmarks for a complete listing.

Earmarks Make the Difference

Earmarks represent a tiny fraction of the entire $410 billion Omnibus appropriations bill. Eliminating earmarks would not reduce the size of the bill by one penny. It would simply mean that money would go directly to a federal agency to spend the money in whatever way they determine -- and Nebraska does not fare well when spending decisions are left in the hands of federal bureaucrats.

I don't think that's right, which is why I will continue fighting on behalf of Nebraskans to make sure we get our fair share. When you send your tax dollars to Washington you should get some of them sent back home.