Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Corruption everywhere!
The right-wing blogosphere has seized on Stupak’s Friday announcement that three airports in his district received a total of $726,409 grants as the possible reason behind his last-minute "yes" vote.
“Did Stupak compromise his supposed principled stand against taxpayer funding of abortion in exchange for taxpayer dollars for pet projects?” asks one posting on Deal Watch, the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee’s latest blog.[...]The Airport Improvement Program, which has existed since the early 1980s, awarded grants in 47 states this year. At least six of the districts receiving the funds are represented by Republicans, including Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Conference Chairman Mike Pence, whose districts received $108,738 and $75,000 respectively.
Alpena -- $707,750Acquire Snow Removal Equipment, Improve Airport Drainage, Security Enhancements
Delta -- $304,000
Construct Snow Removal Equipment Building, Install Taxiway Lighting
Chippewa International -- $316,350
Acquire Snow Removal Equipment, Rehabilitate Runway Lighting, Rehabilitate Taxiway
Grants awarded, 2006
Alpena $162,000
Improve Airport Miscellaneous Improvements, Install Airfield Guidance Signs
Delta -- 1,666,361
Conduct Environmental Study, Environmental Mitigation, Rehabilitate Runway, Update Airport Master Plan Study
Chippewa International -- 749,420
Install Miscellaneous NAVAIDS, Install Taxiway Lighting, RehaBuilding
Chippewa International -- 305,900
Acquire Snow Removal Equipment
Psst- wingnuts...I know this story is one of those "too good to check" things, but try looking up "grant histories" -- it's almost like real reporting!