Opinion: Questioning billions of bucks for Placer County bridge retrofit
Publisher’s note: This editorial is from the April 10, 2011, Auburn Journal.
Congressman Tom McClintock believes an Auburn dam will be built and as the ranking member of the powerful water and power subcommittee he has considerable clout.
“I am still an Auburn dam supporter,” McClintock said during a recent visit with the Journal editorial board. “The only question is whether it will be built before the city of Sacramento is destroyed or after.”
When told that the Foresthill Bridge was undergoing a $79 million earthquake retrofit and paint job, largely paid for by the federal government, McClintock seemed surprised.
“I would say that’s not a good use of money,” he said.
McClintock explained that the federal highway administration was in charge of bridges, and that money was probably allocated some time ago, before he took office
Spending $70-million plus on the Foresthill Bridge when there are so many other much more worthy local projects in need of funding is a boondoggle. It’s government waste.
How does McClintock have any power in Congress? He was just elected as a vagabond, running for office where ever he could find a vacancy! He doesn’t even live around here! He is just another example of career politicians spending our tax dollars for the benefit of his friends! And he approves of the killing of wolves!
Mr. McClintock is not spending the money. The bridge was built using a specialized type of concrete intended to be underwater, as the footings would be after the dam was built. The dam has not been built and the bridge footings will have to be replaced. What is not clear is if the footings can be used if the dam is built in the near future. This is simply more unintended consequence from changing plans after they are approved. We need power and water for our state, we need to build the Auburn Dam.