Lawyers, watchdog groups scrutinize change to earmark, linked to Young, after bill’s passage

[rodeodance]

Source: The Hill




Lawyers, watchdog groups scrutinize change to earmark, linked to Young, after bill’s passage

By Susan Crabtree
October 02, 2007
A change made to an earmark to the 2005 transportation bill after it passed the House and Senate is attracting the attention of lawyers and watchdog organizations, some of whom are criticizing Rep. Don Young’s (R-Alaska) alleged involvement.

After the $286.4 billion transportation bill passed Congress, the enrollment clerk changed the language of a $10 million provision for Florida’s Lee County. The altered language designated the money for a “Coconut Road Interchange” on Interstate 75; the original language authorized the money for “widening and improvements” for I-75.

Watchdog groups argue that Young, who chaired the Transportation Committee at the time, had an interest in the change due to his relationship with businessman David Aronoff, who has raised $40,000 for Young and wanted the interchange. Authorities in Lee County long had said they didn’t want to spend the money on the I-75 Coconut Road Interchange, preferring to use it for a more general widening project.

Young’s office did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lawyers-watchdog-groups-scrutinize-change-to-earmark-linked-to-young-after-bills-passage-2007-10-02.html

[Lasher]

1. Isn't it illegal to change a bill after it's been voted on?

I mean, what's the point of even voting on a bill if someone can change it after the fact?

[SlingBlade]

3. Another Day Another Corruption

AssHoles !

[seafan]

2. So much corruption to dig out. So little time.

Lawyers, watchdog groups scrutinize change to earmark, linked to Young, after bill’s passage, October 2, 2007

A change made to an earmark to the 2005 transportation bill after it passed the House and Senate is attracting the attention of lawyers and watchdog organizations, some of whom are criticizing Rep. Don Young’s (R-Alaska) alleged involvement.

After the $286.4 billion transportation bill passed Congress, the enrollment clerk changed the language of a $10 million provision for Florida’s Lee County. The altered language designated the money for a “Coconut Road Interchange” on Interstate 75; the original language authorized the money for “widening and improvements” for I-75.

Watchdog groups argue that Young, who chaired the Transportation Committee at the time, had an interest in the change due to his relationship with businessman David Aronoff, who has raised $40,000 for Young and wanted the interchange. Authorities in Lee County long had said they didn’t want to spend the money on the I-75 Coconut Road Interchange, preferring to use it for a more general widening project.

Young’s office did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

More backstory:


US Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL) involved in Coconut Road earmark controversy with Don Young (R-Alaska), June 14, 2007


Campaign Funds for Alaskan; Road Aid to Florida, June 7, 2007

WASHINGTON, June 6 — It is no secret that campaign contributions sometimes lead to lucrative official favors. Rarely, though, are the tradeoffs quite as obvious as in the twisted case of Coconut Road.

The road, a stretch of pavement near Fort Myers, Fla., that touches five golf clubs on its way to the Gulf of Mexico, is the target of a $10 million earmark that appeared mysteriously in a 2006 transportation bill written by Representative Don Young, Republican of Alaska.

Mr. Young, who last year steered more than $200 million to a so-called bridge to nowhere reaching 80 people on Gravina Island, Alaska, has no constituents in Florida.

The Republican congressman whose district does include Coconut Road says he did not seek the money. County authorities have twice voted not to use it, until Mr. Young and the district congressman wrote letters warning that a refusal could jeopardize future federal money for the county.

The Coconut Road money is a boon, however, to Daniel J. Aronoff, a real estate developer who helped raise $40,000 for Mr. Young at the nearby Hyatt Coconut Point hotel days before he introduced the measure.

Mr. Aronoff owns as much as 4,000 acres along Coconut Road. The $10 million in federal money would pay for the first steps to connect the road to Interstate 75, multiplying the value of Mr. Aronoff’s land.

.....

[Orsino]

4. I smell smoke.

Hard to be sure when everything already smells of soot.