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StumbleTitus, Berkley criticize Gibbons over highway spending
Published Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 | 3:10 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 | 6:12 p.m.
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley speaks at the official announcement of a $14 million grant from Kirk Kerkorian's Lincy Foundation to fund the creation of The Lincy Institute at UNLV Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009.
Rep. Dina Titus speaks at the College of Southern Nevada in Henderson Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009.
Gov. Jim Gibbons speaks with reporters in Las Vegas during a Sept. 10 news conference on the I-15 expansion project.
WASHINGTON -- Citing a new report that shows Nevada lagging well behind other states in spending its recovery act transportation funds, two Nevada lawmakers today asked Gov. Jim Gibbons to explain why the state “has performed so poorly.”
Nevada received $201 million for highway projects, but only 23 percent of the projects under construction. Just five other states have done worse than Nevada in getting highway construction projects under way, according to the report from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
“It is inexcusable that Nevada ranked 46 out of 51 in its implementation of this critical component of the Recovery Act,” wrote Democratic Reps. Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus in a letter today to Gibbons.
“Successful implementation of the Recovery Act, and particularly its transportation and infrastructure programs, is essential to create and sustain middle-class jobs in our State. We urge you to take the steps necessary to ensure that Nevada improves,” they wrote. They requested that Gibbons “provide us with a detailed explanation of why Nevada has performed so poorly thus far and the steps you plan to take to improve upon this performance in the future.”
A spokesman for the Nevada Department of Transportation disputed some of the committee’s findings, and said well over half of the money to Nevada is out to bid for the work.
Of the $201 million from the feds, $140 million went to NDOT for 18 different state projects.
NDOT Spokesman Scott Magruder said the state has put $100 million of its $140 million out to bid, which is more than the 35 percent the committee reported.
However NDOT did not dispute the committee’s finding that just 23 percent of the work is actually underway. Work has started on at least three of the state’s 18 projects.
Many states reported having well over half of their projects under construction. Nationally, 41 percent of projects were under way.
Magruder said the department expects work to get under way on additional projects within the month. “We’re working around the clock,” he said.
All work will be under way by early next year as the department has pledged to have all bids out by December. “We’re completely confident we’re going to get all the projects by the end of the year,” Magruder said.
The remaining $60 million from the feds went to the regional transportation commissions in Clark ($40 million) and Washoe ($20 million) counties.
The state notes that it could have spent its recovery funds on a few big-ticket projects but decided to spread the money out so more companies could benefit from the work.
"Many people are working today who would not be employed without the critical infrastructure jobs that have been advertised and awarded in Nevada," the state said.
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Hire ACORN to help get the money out. They always get it out fast.
Gibbons is Nevada's Frank Burns! (MASH)
Two Nevada lawmakers today asked Gov. Jim Gibbons to explain why the state "has performed so poorly".
I can answer that in one word: INCOMPETENCE
Democrats Berkley and Titus pushing spending...go figure.
Tell Washington where they can stick their money. Hang in there Mr. Gibbons.
46 out of 51 implementing the money, needs to explain why. He is such an embarrassment. Hired 3 new state people????? Jobs going to out of state companies? We were forced to take the stimulus money, so what is his holdup? People should be working, Oh wait, he doesn't care. He's busy forming committees and hiring people with money Nevada doesn't have.