Earmarks

Senator Murray’s Pigshit

A bill that includes more than $4.5 million in funding for a new waterfront market, new buses and a Wenatchee hospital passed the U.S. House Wednesday.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-WA, said Wednesday that she also expects the final version of the transportation and economic spending bill to pass the U.S. Senate before being sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.

The bill earmarks $1.4 million to help provide for the acquisition and renovation of the Pybus building on Worthen Street. The Pybus building will be home to the regional farmers market and the Wenatchee Food Bank and Distribution Center.

Nearly $2.5 million is included for Link Transit to purchase eight 40-foot, low-floor commuter buses and one 35-foot urban bus. A news release from Murray said the buses would allow Link to expand transit services to seven days per week and expand current operating hours.

Why should federal money (money that comes from people who definitely don’t live in Wenatchee, Washington) be spent on farmers’ markets and commuter buses in Wenatchee, Washington?

If farmers in Wenatchee want a market, shouldn’t farmers and the City of Wenatchee deal with that? Why should people in St. Louis or Miami or even Tacoma be on the hook for commuter buses in Wenatchee?