KJAM reports that Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin has earmarked $1.1 million for rights of way and utility line relocation to pave the way for adding two lanes to Highway 34 between Madison and Interstate 29. In a continuing spirit of nonpartisanship (or is that wealth redistribution?), "Highway 34 Four the Future" committee member and known Republican John Goeman is "pleased."
I wonder what will happen when Senator John Thune and his fellow Republicans get hold of this earmark request. Will they portray Herseth Sandlin's earmark as just more Democratic pork and irresponsible Washington spending?
Or will Senator Thune review his campaign donor list (available at OpenSecrets.org):
| Contributor | Occupation | Date | Amount | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APPELWICK, KAREN MADISON,SD 57042 | HOUSEWIFE | 8/27/04 | $200 | Thune, John (R) |
| BELATTI, RICHARD MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 8/18/04 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| BELATTI, RICHARD MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 9/3/04 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| BELATTI, RICHARD MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 5/26/04 | $200 | Thune, John (R) |
| BELOTTI, RICHARD G DR MADISON,SD 57042 | DOCTOR | 11/24/01 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| BERGAN, JUDSON J MADISON,SD 57042 | OPTOMETRIST | 11/5/01 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| BERGAN, JUDSON J MADISON,SD 57042 | OPTOMETRIST | 10/11/02 | $200 | Thune, John (R) |
| CULEY, DAN MADISON,SD 57042 | FIRST MADISON BANK | 7/1/96 | $200 | Thune, John (R) |
| GOEMAN, JO LYNN MADISON,SD 57042 | KJAM RADIO | 10/14/98 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
| GOEMAN, JOHN MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 2/10/04 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| GOEMAN, JOLYNN MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 4/26/04 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| GROSS, JOHN MADISON,SD 57042 | DAIRY GENETICS | 8/21/02 | $260 | Thune, John (R) |
| GROSS, JOHN C MADISON,SD 57042 | SELF/AGRICULTURE | 9/4/07 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
| GROSS, JOHN C MADISON,SD 57042 | ANIMAL GENETICS | 4/27/98 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| GROSS, JOHN C MADISON,SD 57042 | ANIMAL GENETICS | 3/2/98 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| GROSS, JOHN C. MR. MADISON,SD 57042 | SELF | 8/24/98 | $200 | Thune, John (R) |
| HEINEMEYER, JEFF MADISON,SD 57042 | CITY OF MADISON | 9/13/04 | $300 | Thune, John (R) |
| HEINEMEYER, JEFF MADISON,SD 57042 | CITY OF MADISON | 10/10/96 | $200 | Thune, John (R) |
| JOHNSON, JERRY G MADISON,SD 57042 | B & G TRANSPORTATION/OWNER | 5/31/07 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| JOHNSON, ORVILLE J MADISON,SD 57042 | CONTRACTOR | 9/30/02 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| KRINGEN, DALE E MR MADISON,SD 57042 | SELF/BUSINESS OWNER | 8/16/00 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
| LOOMER, GEORGE MR MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 8/16/00 | $200 | Thune, John (R) |
| MC CAUGHEY, ROBERT L MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 11/28/01 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
| MC CAUGHEY, ROBERT L MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 6/3/02 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| MC CAUGHEY, ROBERT L MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 11/6/01 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| MC CAUGHEY, ROBERT L MR MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 3/31/00 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| MC CAUGHEY, ROBERT L MR MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 3/24/99 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| MC CAUGHEY, ROBERT L. MR. MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 6/19/98 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
| MCCAUGHEY, ROBERT MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 5/7/97 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
| MCCAUGHEY, ROBERT MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 7/15/04 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| MCCAUGHEY, ROBERT MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 9/13/04 | $200 | Thune, John (R) |
| MCCAUGHEY, ROBERT L MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 5/4/98 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
| MCCAUGHEY, ROBERT L MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED/RETIRED | 12/28/05 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| MCCAUGHEY, ROBERT L MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED/RETIRED | 1/12/08 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| MCCAUGHEY, ROBERT L MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 8/3/02 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| MCCAUGHEY, ROBERT L MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 7/27/96 | $200 | Thune, John (R) |
| PHILLIPS, MARGARET MADISON,SD 57042 | HOMEMAKER | 9/21/04 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, DE VONA MADISON,SD 57042 | HOMEMAKER | 8/24/98 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, JERRY MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO AUTO MALL | 5/27/04 | $2,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, JERRY MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO AUTO MALL | 4/25/02 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, JERRY MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO AUTO MALL | 11/21/01 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, JERRY MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO AUTO MALL | 8/24/98 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, JERRY MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO ALL-AMERICAN AUTO MALL | 10/14/96 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, JERRY MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO AUTO MALL/OWNER | 12/30/99 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, JERRY MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO LEASING/OWNER | 8/16/00 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, JERRY MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO MOTORS | 12/23/97 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, JERRY L MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO AUTO MALL/OWNER | 10/18/06 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, PAL L MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO MOTOR CO/RETAIL | 10/18/06 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, PAT MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO MOTOR CO | 3/10/04 | $2,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, PAT MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO MOTOR CO | 9/19/02 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| PROSTROLLO, PAT L MADISON,SD 57042 | PROSTROLLO AUTO MALL/AUTO DEALER | 8/16/00 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
| SHAW, DANIEL F MADISON,SD 57042 | CONSULTANT | 12/5/01 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| SHAW, DANIEL F MADISON,SD 57042 | SELF/AG CONSULTANT | 2/25/08 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| SHAW, DANIEL F MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED/RETIRED | 5/22/07 | $200 | Thune, John (R) |
| SHAW, DANIEL F MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 7/30/02 | $200 | Thune, John (R) |
| SUNDE, DOUGLAS MADISON,SD 57042 | FARMER | 9/3/04 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
| SUNDE, DOUGLAS J MADISON,SD 57042 | FARMER | 8/16/02 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| SUNDE, JAMES S MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED/RETIRED | 12/31/08 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
| SUNDE, JIM MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 7/30/04 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
| THOMPSON, STAN MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 4/20/98 | $250 | Thune, John (R) |
| WENK, MIMI MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 8/24/98 | $400 | Thune, John (R) |
| WENK, WILLIAM MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 8/24/04 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
| WENK, WILLIAM B MADISON,SD 57042 | WENK FOODS | 8/21/96 | $1,000 | Thune, John (R) |
| WENK, WILLIAM B MADISON,SD 57042 | RETIRED | 8/28/02 | $500 | Thune, John (R) |
$35,160. Spread out over a decade and a half, I suppose that's not much. But still....
What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall when Senator Thune asks senior advisor and Madison native Jon Lauck what he thinks of this earmark. If only Lauck were still blogging!
In all fairness, will you also print Stephany Herseth-Sandlin's donations from that site from local donors as well, even though there is no relevance. All three of our congressional delegation are in full support of expanding SD Hway 34 to four lanes between Madison and I-29 for traffic count and safety reasons. Donations don't have a thing to do with common sense. Not to mention the Highway 34 committee has spent a lot of time with Rep. Herseth-Sandlin and our Senators regarding this project.
ReplyDelete"Donations don't have a thing to do with common sense."
ReplyDeleteUm, OK.
To what degree would 4 lanes make in bringing in new businesses? The kind we need now to diversity from manufacturing? It certainly would help, but is this along with inadequate housing too easily given as the reason for lack of success? Again I think Myron is on target by wanting to pursue smaller employers of 10 to 15 people. jh
ReplyDeleteI've said in the past and I'll say it again. I'm all for this project, I can get to Wal-Mart in Sioux Falls much quicker now.
ReplyDeleteAs a local commute, 4 lanes on 34 would be wonderful! In the early, dark mornings, when you are running on a time schedule and then get the slow poke in front of you. ALOT of the times it's not safe to pass. On this same topic, I have been literally run off the road on the stretch west of the Ethanol Plant.
ReplyDeleteFor the longest time I always believed that Stephanie ws useless, but now she has my attention. Great job Stephanie! Now let's make it happen.
So what was the point behind printing the Thune donations? Were you hoping to make someone that does not agree with you feel bad in some way? You are always so concerned about how someone might question your character, yet the sky is the limit when you try to justify your self indulgent, egotistical, irrelevant self. You can have your little friend Jackrabit1 help you with this if you want.
ReplyDeleteI fail to see why you take umbrage at someone posting public records. Anyone can go to OpenSecrets.org and obtain the same information.
ReplyDeleteThe point of posting the Thune donations here is simply to demonstrate that John Thune has a number of donors in this community who would likely want to see him vote for the earmark for Highway 34. The broader point of the post is to show that complaining about earmarks will not be a winning issue for Republicans in Madison or South Dakota as a whole, because we love earmarks for our projects. Bringing home the federal bacon is in the job decription for our Congressional delegation.
That all seems quite relevant.