Dear Jamie,
As you know, I am not one to write to you as Editor so this is new territory for me. However, I feel the need to express my feelings of support for Congressman Jack Kingston who has been under attack lately because funding for the deepening of the Savannah River channel has not been “ear marked”.
“It will take all to make sure we get funding”
First, let me qualify my coming statement by saying that we load containers everyday with bale cotton and cottonseed grown by farmers from across south Georgia headed for the Savannah port so I know first hand the advantage the Savannah port gives our products abroad. While some will try to inject partisan politics, our Congressman Jack Kingston has been a champion of Georgia’s deepwater ports because he knows that creating jobs should not be a partisan issue.
In Washington, Jack has led the fight by rallying Georgia’s congressional delegation - Democrat and Republican alike - in support of deepening the Savannah harbor. He has led a campaign of educating policy makers about the nationwide benefits of the project and has intensely lobbied the Obama Administration to include the project in its budget proposal.
Recently, some have sought to simplify the issue saying that Jack should simply request an “earmark” or congressionally - directed funding for the project. If only it were that simple. As you may recall, Jamie, both the Republican controlled House and the Democratic controlled Senate have banned the practice of earmarks. There is simply no procedure in place at this time to request an earmark.
I would like to suggest that we all expend our energies pressing the President and both chambers of Congress to include funding for the deepening of the Savannah port simply on the importance of the project. With the tough budget fight ahead, it will take all of us to make sure that we get the funding we need and to ensure we don’t miss the boat.
Sincerely,
Roger Branch
In Washington, Jack has led the fight by rallying Georgia’s congressional delegation - Democrat and Republican alike - in support of deepening the Savannah harbor. He has led a campaign of educating policy makers about the nationwide benefits of the project and has intensely lobbied the Obama Administration to include the project in its budget proposal.
Recently, some have sought to simplify the issue saying that Jack should simply request an “earmark” or congressionally - directed funding for the project. If only it were that simple. As you may recall, Jamie, both the Republican controlled House and the Democratic controlled Senate have banned the practice of earmarks. There is simply no procedure in place at this time to request an earmark.
I would like to suggest that we all expend our energies pressing the President and both chambers of Congress to include funding for the deepening of the Savannah port simply on the importance of the project. With the tough budget fight ahead, it will take all of us to make sure that we get the funding we need and to ensure we don’t miss the boat.
Sincerely,
Roger Branch
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#1
taxpayer
on
05/07/11 at 07:48 PM
[Reply]
Jack Kingston will have to earmark the deepening of the Savannah River Project. The Republicans are the ones that really pushed to do away with earmarks. Earmarks are not all bad. Unfortunatly, Georgian made be the ones that will have to suffer because of the last election. Too Bad