Lawmakers deflect beach costs

A House subcommittee rejects a proposal by President Bush to move the cost of fixing shores to the states and local governments.

By BILL ADAIR

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 21, 2001

WASHINGTON -- A House subcommittee has rejected a Bush administration proposal that would have forced state and local governments to pay a larger share of beach nourishment projects.

President Bush had proposed that the federal government pay only 35 percent of beach projects, with states and localities picking up the remaining 65 percent. But this week, the House appropriations subcommittee on energy and water endorsed the existing formula, in which the federal government pays 65 percent for new projects and 50 percent for older projects.

U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Largo, and others in Congress had opposed the administration's change in the cost-sharing plan. They said federal beach money is a good investment that helps local economies and reduces claims for federal flood insurance.

Young, the chairman of the House appropriations committee, added $2-million to the bill to pay for maintenance on Pinellas beaches.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has pumped $29-million worth of sand onto Pinellas County beaches in the past three years. Beaches that benefit from federal help will include Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach and Sand Key.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., said he pushed to retain the higher federal share because the beach nourishment projects were vital for his state.

"I make no apologies for fighting for New Jersey's fair share to ensure that our beaches are protected and our state's $30-billion-a-year tourism industry thrives," he said.

This week the panel's action was criticized by the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense. The nonpartisan group has complained that federal beach projects are political pork that disproportionately helps wealthy communities.

Congress "is starting the pork parade for 2001," said Keith Ashdown, a spokesman for the group.

Taxpayers for Common Sense estimates that the Bush administration's cost-sharing proposal could save the federal government $23-million in the next year.

Ashdown said his group hopes to find a more receptive audience in the Senate, where at least two senators have said they are skeptical about federal beach programs.

"There were some smart cuts" in the Bush proposal, Ashdown said. "The appropriators have decided to throw that out and start from scratch."

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