From a few days ago.
Congressman Pete Stauber might have appeared caught in the middle of national reporting last week that the White House was canceling $3.6 billion in military projects in favor of spending on the border wall with Mexico.
Married to a former command chief of the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth, Stauber has been an avowed supporter of the military. But he was unequivocal in his approval of the diversion of military funds for the border wall in a conversation Sunday with the News Tribune.
"At West Point in New York there's $65 million intended for a new parking lot — it's now being prioritized to secure the southern border," Stauber, R-Hermantown, said. "I think that parking lot can wait. We have a crisis on our southern border." - Duluth NewsTribune
It's not about parking lots, Congressman. Get your shit together.
A number of schools and daycares that serve military families in the United States and abroad will be forced to forgo much-needed renovation and expansion to pay for the wall President Trump is determined to build along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Pentagon released a list this week of more than 127 Defense Department projects canceled due to the reallocation of $3.6 billion to Trump’s wall. Nearly $572 million was slated for school and daycare construction projects on military bases.
Some leaders in Congress have expressed outrage that Trump would compromise the well-being of military families to pay for the wall after Congress refused the funding. - EducationVotes
Addendum: Be sure to click and read the comment, for an explanation of what the parking lot is really about.
$65 Million for a parking "lot" ?
ReplyDeleteAt first glance, wouldn't a "reasonable" Congressman object to that funding ?
So when did Congressman Stauber voice objection ... did he discuss at every 2018 campaign event as an example of "waste" that he would stop if elect? did he offer an amendment to NDAA to delay construction ?
Gosh, why didn't the media report that ? Where were his press releases and tweets ?
If you can find 'em, let everyone know ... cause it sure sounds like somebody grasping for any reason not to complain about Trump's actions.
But ... is he right ... after all, $65 MILLION for a parking "lot" ?
WHY is it so expensive ?
Maybe, we should remember this project went through congressional approval and was signed off by President Trump as part of the NDAA ... so apparently, this must be a needed project.
But, still $65 MILLION ?
Hmmm .... maybe somebody has learned after the Washington Navy Yard shooting (on September 16, 2013, a lone gunman fatally shot 12 people and injured three others in a mass shooting at the headquarters of the Naval Sea Systems Command)?
That's right West Point would be considered a high-value target ... and much of the current parking is in violation of anti-terrorism force protection standards, and needs to be relocated. Due to the steep terrain and limited developable land and the dense arrangement of campus buildings, the parking structure will be multi-story. The parking structure will provide parking stalls, access elevators, exterior paved walkways, lighting, electronic security system, and guard booth.
So, Congressman Stauber thinks that a "parking lot" can wait ... sorta underselling what the project.
Compared to what Trump will divert the money to ... $1.3 billion goes to 52 miles of actual new wall at a cost to taxpayers of $25,000,000.00 per mile. Only a government operation could spend so much for so little.
$65 Million to protect a vital military structure can wait ... 'cause we need 2.6 miles of border fence ... err ... wall.
And remember what we have is private sector jobs lost in an area that could use it ... while ya gotta wonder who will get the construction jobs on the border ? 'cause if there is one thing that we have learned is that Trump is good at building ... building a CultureOfCorruption.