3 Minnesota GOP members seek to free up bridge cash

By Kevin Diaz, Star Tribune

Last update: October 17, 2007 - 8:53 PM

WASHINGTON - With funds for the reconstruction of the Interstate 35W bridge stalled in Congress, three Republican House members from Minnesota introduced a bill Wednesday to provide $195 million to replace the collapsed span.

Democrats, however, called it political posturing and said the measure falls outside the normal annual appropriations process, meaning that it stands little chance of passage.

GOP Reps. Michele Bachmann, Jim Ramstad and John Kline introduced the legislation as a stand-alone bill in an effort to expedite the bridge funding, which has been bogged down in a broader budget fight between Congressional Democrats and the White House.

Promised, but not delivered

"The funds promised to Minnesota in the wake of this tragedy have not been delivered," said Bachmann. "It's time for Congress to act so that the city of Minneapolis can be made whole again."

Bachmann's office said that Democrats in the state delegation had been asked about signing on to the bill. Approached in the hours before it was filed, apparently none of them did.

Oberstar calls bill a stunt

Democratic Rep. Jim Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said "This is unbelievable political posturing; it has no relationship to reality at all."

Oberstar spearheaded efforts to have Congress authorize $250 million in reconstruction funds in the days following the Aug. 1 collapse. Of that, $55 million has been released by the U.S. Transportation Department, but the rest still awaits congressional action on a final appropriations bill.

The Bush administration has said it supports the I-35W bridge money, and has assured state officials that emergency reconstruction funds will be made available with or without action by Congress.

Kevin Diaz • 202-408-2753

Kevin Diaz • kdiaz@startribune.com

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