Local group calls measure ‘fiscally irresponsible’

By HANNAH JOHNSON – Stillwater Gazette

The new St. Croix River crossing project has gained some momentum.

The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 850 out of committee by on a 30-14 vote. Only four Democrats on the panel supported the bill.

The measure moves forward to the House floor.

Sponsored by Rep. Michele Bachmann, the bill facilitates a four-lane bridge over the St. Croix River. The bill is a step toward exemption from the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

The committee debated the bill Wednesday, with some lawmakers arguing this is an opportunity to create jobs while others said this would set a bad precedent.

Rep. Rush Holt (N.J.-12) argued the committee should not support the bill because of the large scale and its hefty price tag.

“This is a gargantuan $700 million project for 18,000 cars going both directions each day,” Holt said. “It sets a precedent that breaks the protection of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act that hasn’t been broken in decades.”

Holt proposed an amendment that called for a less expensive and smaller-scale bridge that wouldn’t have a severe impact on the environment. Several representatives balked at the amendment, stating it would set back the progress made and hinder a new bridge being built any time soon.

Rep. Edward Markey (Mass-07) also argued in favor of a less expensive bridge.

“He’s not saying don’t build a bridge. He’s saying let’s find a way that minimizes the impact,” Markey said. “We know it’s possible to build a less expensive bridge to meet the transportation needs.”

Holt’s amendment failed.

Rep. Rob Bishop (Utah-01), who introduced the bill to the committee, said that H.R. 850 has bi-partisan support from both Minnesota and Wisconsin. He said this bill would help both states solve a problem that has been hindered by the federal government.

“I want to see this move forward,” Bishop said. “It’s not right for the federal government to hold to some standard from decades ago that doesn’t meet the needs of this constituency.”

The committee passed an amendment to H.R. 850 that substitutes mutually-agreed upon language from Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s bill. Klobuchar’s bill has yet to reach the senate floor.

The Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing released a statement after the vote Wednesday. Co-chairs Stillwater Mayor Ken Harycki and John Soderberg applauded legislators for moving the bill forward.

“The St. Croix River Crossing has strong and unified support from both Minnesota and Wisconsin federal lawmakers, as well as support from other members of Congress who are taking our region’s request for a new bridge seriously,” the statement read.

While project supporters feel this is a key step moving forward, opponents say it’s not too late to consider other options to relieve the traffic congestion downtown Stillwater.

The Sensible Stillwater Bridge Partnership also released a statement Wednesday urging state officials to reconsider the cost and scale of the project.

“The Bachmann-Klobuchar bill is fiscally irresponsible,” the statement read. “By demanding an ‘extradosed’ style, it sanctions construction of the most expensive bridge in Minnesota history at a time when we have a mere fraction of the funds needed to repair the roads and bridges already in use.”