Millions in Local Earmarks at Risk
Federal money for the MDI YMCA, Labs, High School, and Bar Harbor Infrastructure Could Be Off the Table
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Swan Agency Real Estate.
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—The recent federal resolution that was put forward Tuesday and meant to prevent a partial shutdown of United States government passed the House 217-213 could have implications on multiple local projects. The resolution now moves to the Senate for action, and the deadline for the Senate action is 12:01 a.m. on March 15. The resolution mostly flatlines spending, but increases military spending by $6 billion. Maine Representative Jared Golden was the only Democrat who voted in favor.
The bill itself doesn’t include earmarks acquired by Senators Susan Collins (R) and Angus King (I). Many of those earmarks support organizations in the Mount Desert Island area and Acadia National Park.
Those earmarks include almost $1.5 million for a proposed expansion of the Mount Desert Island YMCA in Bar Harbor, over $1 million for the expansion of the Swan’s Island Fire and Ambulance Station, $300,000 for the Trenton Grange renovation, almost $2 million for the MDI Biological Laboratory, over $3 million for the Jackson Lab, and close to $5 million for the Schoodic Research Learning Center.
Infrastructure needs for both the town of Bar Harbor and the MDI High School are also among the funds. The Bar Harbor funds are $1.5 million of the town’s West Street pump station and a $4.7 million pump station at Mount Desert Island High School.
Earmarks are portions of spending bills where Congressional members push funds for specific projects in their states.
The House bill would allow the federal government to continue through September 30. The bill now goes to the Senate. As of 5 p.m., March 12, Senate Democrats are saying that they will not support it.
“Our caucus is unified on a clean April 11 C.R. that will keep the government open and give Congress time to negotiate bipartisan legislation that can pass,” Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said.
At least eight Democrats in the Senate need to support the bill for it to get to a final vote. However, an extension or changes would require the House to approve that extension or changes. The House adjourned on Tuesday.
APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025
A complete list of earmarked funds in jeopardy are here and via the Bangor Daily News’ Billy Kobin.
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Carrie spells it out.
Calling Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Jared Golden. Literally.
Sen. Susan Collins
(202) 224-2523
Rep. Jared Golden
(202) 225-6306
I have nothing in particular against the idea of supplying these earmarks...as long as we can afford them. Trouble is given the state of the US and world economy we "can't" currently afford them! Americans have become addicted to the habit of "charging" stuff when funds simply don't exist to pay cash for the stuff. As of late Congress has the unfortunate habit of solving the lack of available cash by simply printing more. Thus when the Bar Harbor Police Department decided they "must have" the latest and greatest in rifles they submit a request the Feds and the Feds simply print more money and Presto! a shipment of new high tech rifles is on the way! Better yet the police don't even have to trade in the perfectly good old rifles, they simply keep them as "extras." What,one wonders, is the pressing need for all these expensive high tech weapons? Is the BHPD expecting some sort of sinister attack from tourists wanting to flee the disintegrating cities to our south. And would simple hand to hand or fist to fist fighting suffice to repel the attack? What Trump and Musk appear to be doing is taking the credit cards away and calling for good old fashioned cash transactions. Much as I dislike and distrust those two I kind of think they might have a good idea about how to restore solvency to a nation of children whose primary motto is best expressed by the name of a lobsterboat in Bass Harbor called "Never Enough."