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Friday, March 6, 2009
UPDATED: John McCain no fan of Dayton Society of Natural History earmark
Sen. John McCain, who visited Dayton last year to introduce vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin to the campaign, is no fan of a $143,000 earmark for Dayton in the omnibus appropriations bill currently stalled in the U.S. Senate.
He’s been “twittering” - that’s short of a one-line blog, for the technological newbies reading this - about his least favorite earmarks in the $410 billion bill.
Among those he’s picked on: “$143,000 for the Dayton Society of Natural History in Dayton, Ohio.”
He’s also tagged $75,000 for the “Totally Teen Zone” in Albany, Ga.; $385,000 for the Utah World Trade Center and $2.1 million for a ferry boat in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
UPDATE: The earmark is in a section of the bill devoted to education, among other agencies, and doesn’t list which member requested the earmark, which would go toward exhibits and the purchase of equipment. On the same page is an earmark for the Aviation Heritage Foundation worth $95,000. That, too, is a Dayton earmark - but it didn’t catch McCain’s eye.
Michael Gessel of the Dayton Development Coalition said the earmark will expand educational programs at the Boonshoft Museum.
“This is a terrific project that will benefit residents of the Dayton area,” he said. “It is educational and it’s the kind of educational funding that our federal government should be doing. We should be proud that our government is funding this kind of worthwhile project.”
The project cleared the Dayton Development Coalition’s process for requesting federal funds.
Mark Meister, president and CEO of the Dayton Society of Natural History, meanwhile, says the earmark, which has been in the works since at least last year, is only one part of a $4 million project to renovate portions of the museum’s space and science gallery, zoo and planetarium. The money is part of a big pot of federal money for libraries and education. Most of the money for the project will come from corporate and private foundations as well as individual contributions. This is the second time the museum has ever sought federal funds, he said.
Meister acknowledges that “there are clearly projects in the past that have not been a legitimate use of federal money,” but said his museum is not one of them. “It’s a very small amount of the total budget,” he said, “and far too much is made of it in this situation.”
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UPDATED Obama lauds Columbus police cadets; says nation can emerge “stronger” from economic crisis
COLUMBUS - On a day the government announced that the national unemployment rate spiked to 8.1 percent in February, President Barack Obama said 25 new Columbus police recruits symbolized what his economy recovery plan is doing to revive the economy.
Doubters of his $787 billion plan should look at the recruits, he said Friday, March 6.
“I ask them to come to Ohio and meet the 25 men and women who will soon be protecting the streets of Columbus because we passed this plan,” Obama said at the officers’ graduation ceremony at the Aladdin Shrine Center.
He urged the audience of 1,000, to emulate the new officers’ spirit.
“Then I have no doubt we will emerge from this crisis stronger than before,” Obama said in his 12-minute speech.
Columbus is using $1.2 million from the stimulus plan to pay the officers for this year. Until the money became available, Mayor Michael Coleman had laid the new officers off.
Ohio Republican Chairman Kevin DeWine responded to the Democratic president’s visit in a press release:
“It’s great that we’re keeping more law enforcement on the streets, but this is a temporary solution to a long term problem.
President Obama is content to borrow money from the next generation to pay the current generation’s bills and someone at some point has to pay for it.”
It was Obama’s first trip to Ohio since his inauguration on Jan. 20.
He used his Columbus stop to announce that $2 billion in the stimulus plan will be allocated for state and local law enforcement assistance, including $61.6 for the state of Ohio. Law enforcement agencies in the Miami Valley are slated to receive some of the money.
Obama said the key to economy recovery was bold action.
”..I also know that this country has never responded to a crisis by sitting on the sidelines and hoping for the best. I know that throughout our history, we have met every great challenge with bold action and big ideas,” he said.
Miami County Democratic Chairman Kelly Gillis and his wife, Dee, a Tipp City city councilwoman, were invited guests. Both lauded Obama’s remarks and his decision to come to Ohio.
“I’m hoping and praying the stimulus works,” said Mrs. Gillis.
Katherine Cull, 26, of Columbus, came to see her brother Kyle graduate with the police class.
“His speech was very inspiring,” Cull said of Obama.
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Miami County Dem chairman at Ohio Obama speech
Miami County Democratic Chairman Kelly Gillis was among hundreds of invited guests who began gathering this morning, March 6, outside the Aladdin Shrine Center in Columbus to hear President Barack Obama on his first visit to Ohio since his inauguration as president.
“I got an invitation. I’m really excited to be here,” said Gillis. “I would like to hear he’s bringing a whole lot of money to Ohio in the stimulus package,” said Gillis, accompanied by his wife Dee. “….I’m very proud of him.”
Obama is scheduled to speak about 10:30 a.m. at the graduation ceremony for 25 new Columbus police officers.
Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman had planned to lay off the new officers even before they hit the streets until $1.2 million from $787 billion Obama’s economic stimulus plan became available to pay them for the year.
Other funding will have to be found after that in Columbus, which is having budget problems.
Police Chief Pro Tem Walter Distelzweig, however, said “I’m pretty confident we’ll be fine.” Retirements will offset some of the costs for the new officers, he said. While presidents frequently have visited Columbus, this is the first time that the city’s police have hosted such a visit, he said.
“We are excited,” he said. He said the $1.2 million will pay the salaries of the new officers but the city will have to kick in additional money to cover all benefits.
An invited crowd of 1,000 was expected. Gov. Ted Strickland and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, were expected to be here.
