This page was last updated on September 10, 2010.
Below grade; Editorial; Beaver County Times; September 10, 2010.
Logically, the vast majority of funding for our lock and dam system should come from user fees and/or taxes paid by commercial and recreational users of the rivers as well as river towns protected by the system. What happens now is maintenance funds come about 50% from the Army Corps of Engineers (that is, taxpayers via a budget approved by Congress) and 50% from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (about $100 million/year funded by a 20-cents-per-gallon tax on diesel fuel used by the barge industry).
The editorial concludes, “In today’s anti-government penny wise and pound foolish political environment, that does not bode well.” This is the same BS the Times writes about bridges and roads. Any “anti-government” sentiment isn’t about spending for legitimate infrastructure maintenance; it’s about confiscating from Jane’s paycheck and giving it to Jack.
Finally, remember all those editorials crying crocodile tears about debt and deficit spending? You’ll note this editorial didn’t recommend cutting other programs to offset the increased spending on dams and locks.
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