Walz releases earmarks

Specific requests offered by congressman

By Tim Krohn

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Mankato, has released his list of appropriation requests — so-called earmarks.

The funding requests set aside funds for a specific project in a lawmakers district, rather than having the allocation decisions made by a federal agency.

The earmarks have come under fire in recent years, with critics saying they drive up the cost of the budget and are pet projects for lawmakers who bypass normal congressional scrutiny. There’s also been criticism because the earmarks often have not been made public until after they are passed.

Several lawmakers have responded by releasing a full list of what earmarked funding requests they are seeking.

In releasing his earmarks request Friday (see accompanying list), Walz said in a statement:

“The projects I requested funding for are projects that are critical to the economy of southern Minnesota and to my constituents’ quality of life.”

He said members often know more about projects important to their districts than a federal agency in Washington, D.C.

“However, because the appropriations process has been abused in the past, I believe it is important for this system to be as open and transparent as possible,” Walz wrote.

Following are Walz’s requests to the House Appropriations Committee for projects in his district:

— Center for Applied Biofuel Research at Minnesota State University. Funds would support research into renewable energy.

— Center for Renewable Energy at Minnesota State University. This funding would support ongoing research into cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel and other renewable forms of energy.

— Minnesota National Guard Field Maintenance Facility in Mankato. Funds would support the design of a maintenance facility to support the training of Minnesota’s National Guard.

— Watonwan County Emergency Services. Funds would support an upgrade of the county’s emergency operations center and a facility for emergency management equipment.

— Rapidan Dam near Mankato. Funding for a study by the Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate options for the Rapidan Dam.

— Region Nine. Funding will assist with assessment of public transit options in Blue Earth and Nicollet counties.

— Highway 8 in St. James. Funding for safety improvements.

— Highway 14. Upgrades in Waseca, Blue Earth and Nicollet counties.

— Mobile Pediatric Health Simulation Center. The funds would support the operation of a mobile pediatric lab to train doctors and nurses in greater Minnesota in pediatric emergency response.

— Sensor Technology Project for Senior Independent Living and Home Health. Located in Windom, the program would allow remote monitoring of elderly clients’ health.

— Statewide National Guard Reintegration program. This program would support a program to help federal, state, and local agencies provide well-coordinated assistance to Minnesota service members reintegrating to civilian life.

— Trunk Highway 169. Reconstruction in Faribault and Nicollet counties.

— Trunk Highway 4. Pavement reconstruction in St. James.

— Trunk Highway 15/Johnson Street intersection in Fairmont. Funding would support a study on ways to control a hazardous intersection in Fairmont.

— Highway 60 expansion to four lanes in Nobles County.

— Road Sign Replacement Program in Watonwan and Houston counties.

— National Child Protection Training Center at Winona State University. The center trains social workers, teachers and health-care professionals to recognize and report signs of child abuse.

— Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota and Iowa. This project will support land acquisition to add acreage to the refuge.

— Oak Avenue Reconstruction. Project will to accommodate heavier traffic in Racine in Mower County.

— Olmsted County Safeguarding Children’s Initiative in Rochester. Funds will support a program to prevent child abuse and neglect.

— Park and Ride Facility construction in Rochester.

— Radium removal project in the Goodview Water System. Funding would construct two water filtration plants to comply with an EPA mandate.

— St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Fresh Start Disease Prevention Program. Funds would support a program in Wabasha to help participants reduce their risk of heart disease.

— Soybean genomics research at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul. Funding for research to help increase protein levels in soybeans, which would make southern Minnesota’s plentiful soybean crop more competitive internationally.

— Uniform Farm Management Program at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul

— Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Funds would purchase a 108-acre tract of land along the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

— Veterans Re-Entry Education Program in St. Paul. Funds would help Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and three state agencies create programs to help returning veterans find employment and educational opportunities.

— Veterans’ Van Transportation Program in Rochester. Funds would support the operation of the county’s van service to transport veterans from Olmsted County to the Minneapolis VA Clinic for medical care.

— Winona State University Utility Tunnel Upgrade and Expansion Project.

— Center for Producer-Owned Energy, Crookston. The center supports the creation of value-added renewable energy businesses that help farmers increase their profitability and promote rural development.

— Garage and Operation Facility construction for Albert Lea’s bus transit system.

— Gunderson Lutheran’s HeartHealth program in Winona. Funds will create a program to reduce life-threatening heart disease in women.

— Dresbach Bridge. Preliminary planning support for the I-90 bridge at Dresbach, in Winona County.

— Highway 52. Improvements in Olmsted County.

— Highway 59 in Worthington Road safety enhancements.

— Hormel Institute Cancer Research Expansion Project in Austin. This funding would expand the Hormel Institute’s cancer research facility and support the renovation of an existing building and the construction of a new facility.

— Interstate 35 guardrail installations in Owatonna.

— Lewis and Clark Rural Water System.

— Sheriffs Youth Program in Rochester. Funding would support SYP’s services for at-risk youth.