Senate OKs $100 million for Utah

WASHINGTON — Republicans overcame Democratic delaying tactics Thursday to finally approve — four months late — a huge, catchall 2004 spending bill that includes $100 million for Utah projects ranging from light rail expansion to upgrading parks.

The Senate voted 65-28 to send to President Bush legislation that combines seven of the 13 annual appropriations bills that normally must be passed prior to the federal fiscal year, which began Oct. 1.

As Congress returned from a long recess this month, Democrats initially refused to cut off debate on the bill — protesting provisions that halt overtime pay for many white-collar workers and allow media conglomerates to own more TV stations. They also wanted to add country-of-origin label rules to help prevent mad cow disease scares.

As pressure grew from home states for funding in the bill, Republicans finally achieved Thursday — with one vote to spare — a three-fifths majority needed to end debate and finally pass the bill. The House had passed the bill in early December.

"It is time to move on," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., told the Senate. "The country demands that we complete action on this bill."

The bill had also been widely criticized by activist groups for having too much pork-barrel spending — and they have attacked Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, as one of the biggest porkers. Bennett, the only Utahn on an appropriations committee, however, defends the $100 million he obtained for Utah projects as needed and worthy.

The bill includes almost 60 projects from Utah that would share $100 million in earmarks, including:

• $30 million toward the TRAX light-rail line to the University of Utah Medical Center.

• $9 million to start planning for the Weber-Davis portion of the proposed Ogden-Provo commuter rail system.

• $6 million for buses for the Utah Transit Authority and transit agencies in Park City, Logan and St. George.

• $6 million for the completed I-15 reconstruction project from 10800 South to 600 North in Salt Lake County.

• $1.1 million for the Southeastern Utah Methamphetamine Project.

• $1 million for the Provo Pioneer Neighborhood Revitalization project.

• $1 million for the Ogden Central Neighborhood Redevelopment project.

• $1 million for Mormon cricket control.

• $600,000 to help Orem purchase an electronic records management system.

• $500,000 for Sandy crime lab enhancements.

• $500,000 to help Logan develop a new Northwest Public Park.

• Numerous research projects for local colleges including $7.7 million alone for Utah State University-related labs and facilities ranging from research on poisonous plants to the study of bee pollen.

The overall bill included $328 billion nationally in "discretionary" funding, and another $492 million in "mandatory" spending such as for Medicare and other automatically paid benefits for which no congressional decision-making is required.

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