Back on September 19, I proposed some "earmarks" destined for Vermont that might be cut from the budget to help pay for Katrina relief.
One such program I figured the state could do without was the construction and rehabilitation of the Cross Vermont Trail for the Cross Vermont Trail Association: A foot and bike trail. Contribution: $1,108,800
Another such program was Construction of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail for the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers: A snowmobile trail. Contribution: $5,814,789
Almost 6 MILLION dollars for a snowmobile trail.
Over one Million dollars for a bike trail.
Altogether the cuts I proposed amounted to over $54 million dollars out of a total $331 million allocated to Vermont from the Transportation bill. So I think that was being pretty conservative.
I wrote all three of my Congressmen detailing the cuts.
Representative Sanders sent me a form letter acknowledging the receipt of my letter only.
I heard nothing from Senator Jeffords.
Senator Leahy did respond as follows
Thank you for contacting me about our nation's financial situation. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita uprooted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the Gulf Coast region, and we must do all we can to assist those who are still suffering. In addition to the billions of dollars in federal aid that have been sent to help rebuild communities, homes, and lives in the Gulf Coast region, I am very proud of the way that Vermonters have also responded to this disaster.Vermont National Guard soldiers and Vermont emergency crews immediately offered their services, and people from around the state generously donated to relief efforts. These massive relief efforts, coupled with the spiraling costs of our military operations and infrastructure construction in Iraq and Afghanistan, are putting an enormous strain on our federal budget. It is even more difficult to meet these obligations at home and abroad because of President Bush's poor fiscal policy that has too often relied on large and irresponsible tax cuts to the wealthiest individuals and corporations.
We certainly have a commitment to maintain and improve infrastructure throughout the United States. However, we must also take back control of our budget by maintaining fiscal discipline and reevaluating the President's misguided tax cuts. We cannot afford to pass along trillions of dollars in debt to our children and grandchildren. I will remain persistent in my inquiries about our financial spending and will surely keep your thoughts in mind as Congress continues its budget discussions. Thank you again for contacting me. Please keep in touch.
Patrick Leahy
UNITED STATES SENATOR
He acknowledges that Hurricane relief is putting a strain on the Federal budget and gratuitously points out that operations in Iraq and Afghanistan also contributes to this while leaving out thousands of other programs that also spend cash. What was the point of that?
He also points out that it's difficult to meet all of our financial obligations because of the Presidents " poor fiscal policy ...
and irresponsible tax cuts" while refusing to acknowledge his own hand in this: voting for war operations and voting for budgets; something the President can not do.
Then he mentions Vermont's contributions to Hurricane relief in the form of Guard and Emergency crews all of which is laudable and something I am personally proud of as well, but which is completely beside the point.
But no where does he offer a specific solution to alleviate any of the budget strains he himself helped to create and specifically he did not address the viability of the budget cut suggestions I made.
He did not offer to cut, or even consider to cut the 5 million dollar snowmobile trail.
He did not offer to cut, or even consider to cut the 1 million dollar bike trail.
He did not offer to consider to cut any of the programs I pointed out.
He offered to do nothing but point out the obvious budget problem which prompted my letter to begin with while blaming political opponents for the problem and not acknowledging his responsibility in any of this.
Poor response, Senator.
And it is why I don't vote for you.
Thanks for nothing.
