Editorial: It is ‘nowhere’ all around

Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005 | 8:01 a.m.

The $442 million Alaskan "bridges to nowhere" that were included in this summer's transportation bill were roundly criticized by congressional Republicans, especially after hurricanes devastated the Gulf Coast region and billions in federal money were needed for reconstruction.

We agree that the bridges, which would have provided both Anchorage and the tiny town of Ketchikan with alternative links to extremely remote areas, were excessive. The $286 billion transportation bill was faulted for being loaded with pork and this was a prime example.

In response to widespread criticism, House and Senate negotiators appeared to act decisively. Going against powerful Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, who had threatened to resign from the Senate if the money were touched, they crafted an agreement to deal with the bridges. The agreement stipulates that Alaska is no longer "required" to spend the appropriated money on the bridges. It can, if it chooses to, spend the money on other transportation projects.

Some fix. The state can also decide to go ahead and use the money for the bridges anyway. Only in Congress could this agreement be hailed as a stand against pork-barrel spending. While it might save some face, it saves no money.