A Bridge Too Far?

Straining to show new dedication to lower spending, House and Senate negotiators took the rare step of eliminating a requirement that $442 million be spent to build the two bridges, spans that became cemented in the national consciousness as "bridges to nowhere" because of the remote territory and small populations involved.

The change will not save the federal government any money. Instead, the $442 million will be turned over to the state with no strings attached, allowing lawmakers and the governor there to parcel it out for transportation projects as they see fit, including the bridges should they so choose.

Someone is going to need to explain how this is actually cutting pork out of the budget. This is simply a reappropriation of monies from one fund to another fund. It's not a cut, even in the arcane world of Washington, D.C. politics.

This is one turkey that hasn't been carved.

If anything, this gives Alaska even more room to waste the $442 million. At least the earmark for the bridge meant that the money had to go to the construction of the bridges. Now, it can go anywhere that the lawmakers deem necessary. This makes the situation worse, not better.