Ehrlich on Washington column, February 15, 1998

NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Week of February 15, 1998 CIVIL WORKS PROJECTS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY Earlier this month, President Clinton submitted his proposed fiscal year 1 999 budget. Included in the president’s budget are some little-noticed tax increases and ill-targeted spending cuts which, if implemented, could spell doom for the nation’s maritime industry. While the President wants to spend more on his own pet social welfare programs, he neglects legitimate spending initiatives crucial to the nation’s waterway infrastructure. For example, he wants to slash the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ civil works program by a whopping 25 percent. Additionally, the President proposes up to $37 million in new users’ fees for ships utilizing these run-down waterways. The national impact of these cuts are far and long reaching. They will, however, be strongly felt here at home. Right now, long term projects vital for the continuing success of local economies throughout the nation have been grossly underfunded. One such project is the reconstruction of Poplar Island, a (once) sickle-shaped island in the Chesapeake Bay that has nearly vanished due to erosion. This project, which I strongly support, will cost an estimated $427 million. The federal government has agreed to pay 75 percent of the cost; the state of Maryland will pay the rest. While the Maryland Port Administration has requested $11 million from the federal government for fiscal year 1999 in order to keep the project on track, President Clinton wants to