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February 25, 2009 · As Congress debates appropriations bills for the fiscal year, some San Antonio lawmakers are trying to get some money to help with an upcoming military expansion.
Lawmakers are debating a massive spending bill that is expected to be passed this week. Tucked inside the legislation is some money to help San Antonio make infrastructure improvements around its three military bases. More than 10,000 families are scheduled to relocate here over the next three years as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission or BRAC mandate. Republican Congressman Lamar Smith wants to use the money to ease traffic congestion – especially at the Harry Wurzbach and Rittiman Road interchange.
"So we want to eventually turn Harry Wurzbach into a 4 lane street so that people can move along quickly and so that we can avoid the traffic jams in the morning and in the afternoon," Smith said.
The request for $950,000 dollars in funds is an earmark, but Smith says it’s definitely not what anyone would call pork barrel spending.
"This may be to some people technically an earmark but we don’t have any problem when it comes to public works – when it comes to helping the city – when it comes to helping Fort Sam Houston – these are clearly in the public interest – and that’s why they’re not particularly controversial," Smith said.
Smith is working with San Antonio Democrat Charlie Gonzalez and City Councilwoman Sheila McNeal to identify specific city projects and get the funding approved by Congress. |
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