Intended as a menu of options for the next new federal stimulus package, the mayors' wish-list is loaded to the brim with more than 31,000 earmarks totaling $73.2 billion, four times the total amount of federal pork contained in the appropriations bills for the entire fiscal year 2008. Here are but a few of the numerous outrageous examples:
-- $1.1 billion for 41 projects to improve Amtrak infrastructure;
-- $718.5 million for 54 projects directed to museums;
-- $192.6 million for 12 projects directed to stadiums, including $150 million for the Metromover Extension to Marlins Stadium in Miami, Florida. In 2008, the Florida Marlins had the worst attendance in Major League Baseball, playing in front of an average crowd of 16,668 fans, or 45.9 percent of their stadium's capacity;
-- $87 million for 56 projects for bicycle paths;
-- $6 million for a reclamation/improvement project at Surfers Point beach in Ventura, California;
-- $1.5 million for an initiative to reduce prostitution in Dayton, Ohio;
-- $700,000 to plant 1,600 trees along the sidewalks in Providence, Rhode Island; and,
-- $500,000 for environmentally-friendly golf courses in Dayton, Ohio.
"The Mayors apparently think that Christmas has come early," said CAGW President Tom Schatz. "It is outrageous that the mayors would use this economic crisis as an opportunity to obtain federal funding for these wasteful, low priority projects, which apparently offer excellent photo opportunities for them, but will do nothing to stimulate the economy in the long term."

The mayors wishing for such things is one thing, but them getting them is another. I guess only time will tell.

Sue

Again, it is just telling many of the mayors many outrageous wants, just as I listed above. No money has yet been approved for any of them.

I'm thinking they are putting a few things out there to get the reaction - finger in the wind, etc. Then some will pretend they are totally against it, and there will be wrangling. In the end, more -much more - will be sent back home with the lawmakers.

Is this on top of the President-elect's proposed spending on the infrastructure?

In light of the stories of cities, states, etc., considering selling off the infrastructure, why are we putting money into it? Why are new things being done? Will we be fixing it up for foreign buyers?

This is out of control - it really is. If they are even considering putting money out for stadiums, bicycle paths, surfer's beaches, museums, when things are bad and perhaps getting worse, there is no hope for any of them.

Prostitution??

Sue

The fact they are making a wish list should be a crime.

The fact lawmakers, the President and the President elect hasn't denounced the wish list should be a crime.

To even have it discussed is an insult to every person in this country -

Of course there are going to be things in any list like this that I am not going to agree with or someone else will not agree with. But the simple fact of making this list is necessary, assuming that there is going to be a stimulus package.

Just on a short list, though, we need museums and the arts - sets us apart from the apes. We need alternate energies since the Middle East could blow up and the usual other gang of suspects who supply us could cut us off or run out of oil themselves. We need to start moving goods and people via the railroads - tracks are there sitting largely idle; we need our libraries open; we need trail groomers, pothole fillers, trees being planted, public parks maintained, flower displays in our cities and towns - it's a quality of life issue.

Quality of life issues have merit because those might be the only things left when the quantity of our lives becomes diminished by our own choice or by circumstances beyond our control. The answer to the mayors' wish lists will be largely "no". At least for now.

We do need alternative energy - two decades ago. Will we get meaningful action in that arena or will they again bend to the lobbyist of the oil company and give us something like ethanol - designed not to help?
Mass transit - yes. Is Amtrak the answer, though? Haven't they been pouring money into it for years? I don't know a lot about mass transit, but would like to see more of it. We just need to see that the money is spent in a way that it will help - not just pouring more water down the rabbit hole.
There are huge amounts of goods being transported by rail. I am sitting too near a track right now, and trains are very frequent - very long trains.

Museums, operas, plays, art are all wonderful. It isn't something I think the government should be heavily involved in, but I doubt that will change. I'm just thinking more money in that area, could be put on the back burner for a while.

I'm thinking some private funding, belt tightening, and volunteerism would go a long way to keep those things going and going well.

The people won't revert back to primitives due to a lack of culture in their life, but they will due to a lack of basic necessities.

As to the infrastructure, the devil is in the details. I don't think the new President will stray far from the norm in politics, so I'm thinking it is going to be business as usual. Will the contracts be awarded to the best providers or to friends and contributors? Will they be held to their bids or will they be allowed to pile on as much as they like? Will the people hired be all citizens or will it provide jobs for the illegals who are increasinly out of work due to the economy? Will these 'fixed up with taxpayer monies' then be sold off to buddies, domestic or foreign?

It may a fact that states may be strapped right now, but they have plenty of pork to trim as well. Money doesn't always fix a problem. Our education system should tell us that.

The answer to the mayors' wish lists will be largely "no". At least for now.

From you lips to God's ear - but I think they will get much of what they really want. This is pay off time for past political favors, remember.

Is Amtrak THE answer? No, no one transportation mode is THE answer. All modes need to be supported in for the entire system to work. So bridges need to be rebuilt (yes, at an unbelievable cost), the air navigation system needs to be upgraded to deal with the increase in flights (at an unbelievable cost) and ports need to be fixed (again, at an unbelievable cost). These are the things that have been neglected for decades so now we're paying the price. If Obama can put together the need to fix the nation's infrastructure with a economic stimulus into a cogent policy, then I'm all for it.

As for the rest of the "wish list", states and localities have their own priorities. I would not presume to set one standard for every place. Arizona may need one type of infrastructure while Massachusetts would need another. So, what may seem unnecessary to you may seem vital to someone else. Bike paths have been used extensively in Portland, OR and other cities to provide alternative transportation modes and reduce car traffic. So, yeah, bike paths may not get big play in LA or NYC but Denver and Portland see a need.

Is there a chance of pork? Sure. No matter who you vote into Congress, there is always a chance.

ole joyful