Metro's counting on DeLay and Culberson to come through with funding
Metro isn't sweating the possibility of missing out on $300 million in FTA funding. You see, Metro is counting on "its Congressional delegation" to come through:
And, based upon Congressional commitments made last year, METRO anticipates that significant dollars will be sought by its Congressional delegation for METRO Solutions Phase 2 projects. The Congressional delegation committed to seeking $1 billion over ten years, or an average amount of $100 million per year.
Now would be an interesting time to look back on how Metro Bigs and other light rail cheerleaders have, ahem, treated Metro's Congressional delegation in the past. Let's see, how about that gargantuan, four-reporter Chronicle story from a year ago where just about anyone who is in favor of light rail got the opportunity to bash Reps. DeLay and Culberson:
"Culberson is the only Texas member of the transportation appropriations subcommittee," said Robin Holzer, chairwoman of the Citizens Transportation Coalition, a grass-roots organization that promotes more public transit in Houston. "The committee conferees would defer to the Texas delegation on this matter, especially the representative from Houston. "
And:
"We have been providing these light rail funds to cities that are half our size," said Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston.
"It seems like we as a delegation ought to quit fighting old battles and get together."
And:
Mayor Bill White said he spoke Friday with Culberson and Hutchison to stress the need for Congress to expedite MetroRail expansion.
"I do not know why any member from Texas would have opposed the original language proposed by Senator Hutchison," White said.
And:
Metro Chairman David Wolff said it's appropriate to ask Congress for financial flexibility, and he wishes Culberson and DeLay would have supported Hutchison's rider.
"This is the time for them to show the people of Houston they strongly support money coming to Houston rather than going to Dallas, New York or other cities," Wolff said. "That's what a congressman is supposed to do.
"It's very difficult to get federal money without the cooperation of Congressman DeLay and Congressman Culberson."
And here's the best one of all:
"It's an affront to the citizens of Houston," said Ed Wulfe, chairman of the Main Street Coalition, who has promoted development along the 7 1/2-mile light rail line that opened last year. "Somebody is putting their personal agenda ahead of what the people want."
Personal agenda?! Does Mr. Wulfe REALLY want to talk about personal agendas??
And let's not forget that screeching Chronicle editorial where the LiveJournalists unbelievably wrote:
The next time Metro and the majority of voters in its service area say "Jump," their representatives in Congress should ask, "How high?"
You know what? I'll bet Metro's Congressional delegation will come through for it (as long as Metro plays by the rules), because Reps. DeLay and Culberson gave their word. Metro's word, on the other hand, is a living, breathing and evolving thing, not even worth the 2003 referendum paper it was written on.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/11/06 08:15 PM | Print |
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