Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-Miami) recently fired off a blunt and very critical message to Florida’s Republican governor: pick up the pace on spending the state’s road stimulus dollars.
Meek’s statement came in response to U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James L. Oberstar’s announcement that Florida is one of the worst-performing states when it comes to utilizing Recovery Act Highway Funding.
“Florida falling far behind other states in putting to work its Recovery Act highway formula funds,” Oberstar said in a letter to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. “According to submissions received from all States and the District of Columbia, your State ranks last among all States (51 out of 51). As of June 30, Florida had begun construction of projects totaling only two percent of the State’s funding.”
The news prompted Meek to describe the situation as “part of a disturbing and now repeating trend taking place in my home state.”
Meek previously blasted Crist for dragging his feet in submitting a waiver application Florida needed in order to qualify for $2 billion in education stimulus funds. He also faulted Crist for failing to provide the leadership necessary “to make the legislative fixes required to allow Florida to draw down $444 million to extend unemployment benefits for the now nearly 11 percent jobless Floridians.”
“I urge the Governor to be a hands-on leader with his agencies, departments and with the state legislature when session convenes next year, and ensure that Florida is taking advantage of every federal dollar it can receive,” Meek said.
Meek and Crist are two leading candidates for the respective party's nomination for the junior U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mel Martinez.
Florida's Office of Economic Recovery responded to the Oberstar letter with a statement that challenged his claims:
Given the fact that Florida (1) has chosen not to supplant funds; (2) has a more rigorous budgeting process; (3) has a high percentage of capacity projects; (4) has a larger number of urban areas with greater control over funding decisions and project administration; and (5) data utilized in the report is over a month old, we believe your analysis does not accurately reflect Flroida's comparative progress in implementing Recovery Act funds."
While the office accused the chairman of using outdated data, it has not released any more up-to-date data concerning Florida's use of the stimulus money.
Meek’s statement came in response to U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James L. Oberstar’s announcement that Florida is one of the worst-performing states when it comes to utilizing Recovery Act Highway Funding.
“Florida falling far behind other states in putting to work its Recovery Act highway formula funds,” Oberstar said in a letter to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. “According to submissions received from all States and the District of Columbia, your State ranks last among all States (51 out of 51). As of June 30, Florida had begun construction of projects totaling only two percent of the State’s funding.”
The news prompted Meek to describe the situation as “part of a disturbing and now repeating trend taking place in my home state.”
Meek previously blasted Crist for dragging his feet in submitting a waiver application Florida needed in order to qualify for $2 billion in education stimulus funds. He also faulted Crist for failing to provide the leadership necessary “to make the legislative fixes required to allow Florida to draw down $444 million to extend unemployment benefits for the now nearly 11 percent jobless Floridians.”
“I urge the Governor to be a hands-on leader with his agencies, departments and with the state legislature when session convenes next year, and ensure that Florida is taking advantage of every federal dollar it can receive,” Meek said.
Meek and Crist are two leading candidates for the respective party's nomination for the junior U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mel Martinez.
Florida's Office of Economic Recovery responded to the Oberstar letter with a statement that challenged his claims:
Given the fact that Florida (1) has chosen not to supplant funds; (2) has a more rigorous budgeting process; (3) has a high percentage of capacity projects; (4) has a larger number of urban areas with greater control over funding decisions and project administration; and (5) data utilized in the report is over a month old, we believe your analysis does not accurately reflect Flroida's comparative progress in implementing Recovery Act funds."
While the office accused the chairman of using outdated data, it has not released any more up-to-date data concerning Florida's use of the stimulus money.
Go Kendrick!
ReplyDeleteCharlie thinks that, if he were to use that stimulus moneyas quickly as needed to, he will lose a lot of his constituent base. Newsflash Charlie... They don't like you anyway. If you would remember, a lot of people crossed party lines to vote for your dumb butt. Snap out of for criminy sakes.
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