By Sean Mussenden
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
Rep. Henry Brown speaks to Grand Strand leaders in Washington
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WASHINGTON-As Congress debated the $825 billion stimulus package Tuesday, Grand Strand leaders flew to Washington hoping to secure some of that money for construction of Interstate 73.
Back home, a spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., said the governor had not yet decided whether to keep or return any stimulus package funding directed to the state.
The I-73 highway project that would connect Myrtle Beach to Interstate 95 and points beyond has been in the works for decades, but lack of funding has delayed the road.
President Barack Obama and Congress are hashing out a job creation package this week that would send an estimated $30 billion to states to spend on road projects.
Under the package taking shape in the House, South Carolina is currently slated to receive about $480 million for roads, and supporters of I-73 hope the state will use some of the money to build the proposed highway's interchange with Interstate 95.
"If we could get $120 million to $150 million right now, we'd be very excited," said South Carolina Department of Transportation Commissioner Danny Isaac. The total projected cost of building I-73 in South Carolina is $2.4 billion.
Several roadblocks could prevent the project from receiving funding under the stimulus package.
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford opposes the stimulus package, arguing that it would significantly expand the federal deficit. Supporters are worried that Sanford could return South Carolina's share in protest.
After meeting with Grand Strand leaders at a hotel near the Capitol, Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., a longtime advocate of funding for I-73, said he shared Sanford's concern about the deficit.
But given that the stimulus package is almost certain to pass, Brown said he wanted to make sure South Carolina got its fair share.
"We would be ill-served if the bill passed and the money was distributed to other states and we weren't able to get any for South Carolina," he said.
A Sanford spokesman said it was too early to tell whether the state would keep or return any of the money.
"We haven't received any money yet, so we'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said. "He doesn't think it's fair to pass on the burden of paying (for the stimulus package) to our children."
Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes noted that even if the governor returned the money, South Carolinians would not get a break on future federal taxes that will be used to pay for the stimulus package.
"Sometimes Governor Sanford doesn't think too well," Rhodes said.
I-73 must overcome another hurdle if it is to receive stimulus package funding. In order to create jobs immediately, the package seeks to fund "shovel ready" projects - mostly those that could begin within 90 days.
But one version of the package would allow some funding for projects that could begin by mid-2010. I-73 supporters say they could not begin construction within 90 days, but that they could easily meet the later date.
Sean Mussenden can be reached at smussenden@mediageneral.com or 202-662-7668
Back home, a spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., said the governor had not yet decided whether to keep or return any stimulus package funding directed to the state.
The I-73 highway project that would connect Myrtle Beach to Interstate 95 and points beyond has been in the works for decades, but lack of funding has delayed the road.
President Barack Obama and Congress are hashing out a job creation package this week that would send an estimated $30 billion to states to spend on road projects.
Under the package taking shape in the House, South Carolina is currently slated to receive about $480 million for roads, and supporters of I-73 hope the state will use some of the money to build the proposed highway's interchange with Interstate 95.
"If we could get $120 million to $150 million right now, we'd be very excited," said South Carolina Department of Transportation Commissioner Danny Isaac. The total projected cost of building I-73 in South Carolina is $2.4 billion.
Several roadblocks could prevent the project from receiving funding under the stimulus package.
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford opposes the stimulus package, arguing that it would significantly expand the federal deficit. Supporters are worried that Sanford could return South Carolina's share in protest.
After meeting with Grand Strand leaders at a hotel near the Capitol, Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., a longtime advocate of funding for I-73, said he shared Sanford's concern about the deficit.
But given that the stimulus package is almost certain to pass, Brown said he wanted to make sure South Carolina got its fair share.
"We would be ill-served if the bill passed and the money was distributed to other states and we weren't able to get any for South Carolina," he said.
A Sanford spokesman said it was too early to tell whether the state would keep or return any of the money.
"We haven't received any money yet, so we'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said. "He doesn't think it's fair to pass on the burden of paying (for the stimulus package) to our children."
Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes noted that even if the governor returned the money, South Carolinians would not get a break on future federal taxes that will be used to pay for the stimulus package.
"Sometimes Governor Sanford doesn't think too well," Rhodes said.
I-73 must overcome another hurdle if it is to receive stimulus package funding. In order to create jobs immediately, the package seeks to fund "shovel ready" projects - mostly those that could begin within 90 days.
But one version of the package would allow some funding for projects that could begin by mid-2010. I-73 supporters say they could not begin construction within 90 days, but that they could easily meet the later date.
Sean Mussenden can be reached at smussenden@mediageneral.com or 202-662-7668