Bachmann will forgo earmarks for Desoto bridge

Last week, I speculated about whether Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., would rethink her recent pledge to forgo federal earmarks for her district in light of the closure of the Desoto bridge in St. Cloud. That answer is a firm “no.”

Late last week, at a meeting with business leaders to discuss the closure and possible repairs or replacement, she reiterated her ideological opposition to earmarks and said she will not seek an earmark to fix or replace the Desoto bridge, according to the St. Cloud Times’ Larry Schumacher.

Her office is looking into federal grants that might be applied to fixing the bridge. “She’s definitely interested in helping the St. Cloud area and getting that bridge replaced as soon as possible,” Scott Mareck, executive director of the St. Cloud Area Planning Organization told the Times. “She didn’t speak directly to the issue of how to get the DeSoto Bridge funded, but that’s high on our list of priorities.”

But does applying for federal grants make an ideological difference? Federal grants still funnel money from the national taxpayer pool to specific local projects, as others have noted. That Bachmann would oppose any increase in taxes (as she’s said numerous times) while requesting the money does not mean it won’t end up on the taxpayers’ bill.

Others who attended the meeting were not as optimistic about a federal grant approach.

St. Augusta Mayor Bob Kroll said, “She says she wants to look out for the people in her district, but if she’s not going to support our earmarks, we’re going to lose out.”

Teresa Bohnen, St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce president, said, “If we get any [federal] money for the DeSoto Bridge, it’s got to be earmarked… If [Bachmann] removes herself from the earmark process now, before there’s a better system in place, it seems like there’s going to be an opportunity cost to the district. We’re going to lose out on our own tax dollars. They’re going to go somewhere else.”

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will likely have money to fix the bridge even without federal matching funds. That money will be available thanks to the transportation bill opposed by the majority of state House and Senate Republicans, and vetoed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. That veto was overridden by DFL lawmakers and six House Republicans.