Comments about ‘Stimulus money hits the road’

Way to go Jason, doing something no one else has done. Actually working with the state to use the money more efficiently and not using earmarks to do it.

It is about time. Nice to know we have someone smart in congress and in Utah.

I voted for Rep. Chaffetz because he listens.

"Chaffetz said members of the Legislature had urged him to take his new approach, and he did the first member of the Utah delegation to do so."

Awesome! Great ideas, guys. Good job...

If the traditional "earmark" method gets, say 6 of every 10 dollars to the road and this gets, say 8 of 10 dollars to the road, using the traditional earmark method is dumb.

I hope this catches on. I have wasting 20% of my money.

Jason Chaffetz: Working with Rep. John Dougall and Rep. Lockhart. Good job team.

I know the Utah House and Senate did a great job of working with the limited budget and still kept some roads money in. I was afraid that when they got some federal money, the money would get put where we need it the least.

Utah is already working on ways that could help with the diversity of energy created and used in Utah, and encouraging both saving energy and renewable energy. It is helpful when both sides of a debate can concentrate on items they agree.

I hope we can use the money for roads the same way. We don't need fights. Fighting on Legacy could have been solved years earlier.

OUTSTANDING!!!

It's not an earmark, but the money is supposed to go to UDOT? Looks like a duck. Walks like a duck. Are we sure this isn't an earmark - for UDOT?

Looks like Chaffetz spin to me.

Conference call with Rep. Dougall and Rep Lockhart? Both from Utah county. Why were they on this call again? My guess is Chaffetz is asking for some cover from the right wing because he's getting scewered by the Mayors in his district.

Does anyone else see the irony in the two legislators saying how great it is that because of Chaffetz the cities no longer have an advocate for projects in their cities? The Legislators want the money to go directly to the state (UDOT) and not to the cities.

So when Legislators say local government is better they really mean government where they govern - at the state level.

Odd call...

Why a conference call? I don't know, but could it be that Rep. Chaffetz wanted to make sure he didn't get all the credit, that Rep. Dougall and Rep Lockhart helped set this up?

Re: Earmarks
Earmarks are currently the way both the democrat and republican Reps and Senators are kept in office. They are the return on investment to lobbyists and big money. While they can do some good, they currently are a main source of the problem with our federal government. Why should Provo or West Valley have to hire a PAC or Lobbyist to get taxpayer money? I am hoping this becomes the nail on the coffin of the whole big money problem.

some great news recently from S/S ADMIN.they are sending me a one-time stimulus pkg.of 250.00 dollars,WOW.I'm thinking,should i purchase a new harley or maybe take a vacation to HAWAII.The options are limitless.Decisions,decisions.

Are you sure you will get the $250. (I got), did you notice that there is no date given as to when it was coming. Just a estimate. Besides there are some Govt. stipulations on what you can do with it. Maybe we all should send it back, as a protest.

Probably have to agree to a cap on your salary in order to get the $250.

Hey, "Looks like a duck..."
I recommend spending some quality time at a zoo. ;-)

The transportation money has to go *somewhere* to be applied to, ya know, transportation. If it were earmarked it would be tagged to go to specific projects in specific cities instead of one big pot for the Department of Transportation to prioritize at the local level.

That's not a duck... it's a good ol' American Eagle spreading its wings!

Did it tell you that it came with a bill for your children and grandchildren?

some great news recently from S/S ADMIN.they are sending me a one-time stimulus pkg.of 250.00 dollars,WOW.I'm thinking,should i purchase a new harley or maybe take a vacation to HAWAII.The options are limitless.Decisions,decisions.

His comment certainly muddies the waters:

"I want to get as much politics out of it as I can," said Chaffetz

So he's trying to politically capitalize on this...

What does $15 million buy? Not a lot. Not even an interchange on I-15. I think that his district got less because of his not going after earmarks. If everyone changed together and earmarks were a thing of the past great, but him being the only one not accepting federal money that we all have been taxed for puts us at a disadvantage.

If it was an earmark, it wouldn't be different.
This is different.

I'm proud of Jason. If everyone stands around and says, "Earmarks are bad, but it's the only way to do things" instead of standing up for principle, nothing will ever change. If spending in WAshington were more transparant, perhaps there would be less of it. In that MONSTROUS stimulus package that passed, there were many earmarks and pork projects. We will continue to pay for these things as will our children. Reigining in spending and being responsible for that spending is necessary to overhaul our economy. I think what Jason is doing is a step in the right direction. Hopefully there will be more legislators with the courage to get on board.