CLAY BARBOUR and MARY SPICUZZA | Wisconsin State Journal madison.com | (316) Comments | Posted: Tuesday, November 9, 2010 10:50 am
.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has left the door open to discuss the use of passenger train funds in more detail with Gov.-elect Scott Walker. But in a letter Monday, LaHood reiterated that the stimulus dollars could not be spent on anything other than high speed rail and would likely go to another state for that purpose.
Walker did not immediately respond to questions about a possible meeting between the two.
The $810 million Madison-to-Milwaukee passenger rail appears to be dead after Gov. Jim Doyle Monday announced he was leaving its fate in the hands of his successor, Gov.-elect Scott Walker — an outspoken critic of the project who has repeatedly vowed to kill it.
"While I could force the issue, I believe that this project will only be successful in the long run if the state of Wisconsin and the U.S. Department of Transportation are strong partners," Doyle said in a statement. "For that reason, I have put the project on pause, so that the U.S. DOT and the governor-elect can confer about the future of the high speed rail project."
Walker, a Republican, defeated Democrat Tom Barrett last week in the race for governor. He ran a campaign that focused on fiscal restraint and often slammed the rail project as a boondoggle that would ultimately cost the state too much money to operate, about $7.5 million a year.
At the state Capitol Monday for a meeting with the Assembly Republican Caucus, Walker held firm in his resolve to end the project when he comes to office in January.
"I don't see anything that would change my mind," he said.
Last week the state put on hold some $130 million in contracts and 412 jobs with nine companies: Edward Kraemer & Sons, Kapur & Associates Consulting Engineers, Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, Daar Engineering, Amtrak, HNTB, CH2M Hill, Canadian Pacific Railroad, Wisconsin & Southern Railroad and Talgo.
As a result of the stoppage, the state is responsible for $14.25 million, a number that includes contract cancellation fees and money already spent. Taxpayers would also be on the hook for an additional $83.4 million in line upgrades, which include renovations to the Milwaukee train station, improvements at Mitchell International Airport and a maintenance facility for the Hiawatha line between Milwaukee and Chicago.
Officials had planned to use federal stimulus dollars to pay for those upgrades, which are needed regardless of whether the new line is built.
Had the train moved forward, officials estimate that at the peak of construction, it would have employed more than 5,500 people.
'You roll with the punches'
News of the governor's decision came as a disappointment to Talgo, which opened a factory in Milwaukee earlier this year and had planned to hire 125 people — 40 by the end of November. If the project is dead, the Spanish company would have to change direction and essentially close up shop in Wisconsin.
"This is not just about Talgo," said Nora Friend, a spokeswoman for the company. "We would have to lay off people and close the factory down at the beginning of 2012."
Kapur & Associates was teamed with Daar Engineering on a $2.8 million contract. On Monday, Kapur owner Ramesh Kapur said his company had planned to dedicate three or four employees to the job.
"If the project does not go through, then I guess we will have to look elsewhere," he said. "This is not the first time we have lost a job. We've been in business 30 years. You roll with the punches."
Ken Lucht, spokesman for Wisconsin and Southern Railroad, said the company hadn't hired workers specifically for the project but planned to employ an additional 25 people to do maintenance on the rail line.
Lucht said the company had an agreement with the state, which will soon be getting a bill for eight months of work.
"We are going to be billing the state for time and materials," Lucht said. He added that the total bill hasn't been calculated yet.
Patt Goss, executive director of the Wisconsin's Transportation Builders Association, said stopping the train would have some hard financial impacts, at least initially.
But he said he is optimistic about the future under Walker, who has promised to end raids on the state's transportation fund and commit to increasing state funding for roads and bridges.
"We just want a definite answer on this," he said. "So that one way or the other, we can start making plans for the future."
LaHood: State will lose money
Walker has said he is investigating ways for the state to keep the federal stimulus money and spend it on other infrastructure projects, such as roads and bridges. Such a move would require approval by Congress, which in January will have a Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives and a strong Republican minority in the U.S. Senate.
He said a precedent for such a maneuver was set in 1998, when Wisconsin used $241 million meant for light rail between Milwaukee and Waukesha County to fund the Marquette Interchange.
But on Monday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood sent a letter to Walker warning the governor-elect that none of the stimulus money could be spent on such projects.
"Unless you change your position, we plan to engage in an orderly transition to wind down Wisconsin's project so that we do not waste taxpayers' money," he wrote.
Already New York's Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo has asked the federal government to redirect $1.2 billion to New York for passenger rail projects. He's asked LaHood to give the money to his state if the new governors in Ohio and Wisconsin kill their states' projects.
ibid,ibid,ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibidibid, ibid, ibid, ibidibid
Copyright 2010 madison.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistri
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Highway Measure Won’t Bring Higher Taxes in New Year
November 05, 2010, 12:04 AM EDT
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e-mail this story print this story 1diggdiggadd to Business Exchange By John Hughes
Nov. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Raising taxes “is off the table” when the U.S. House votes on a six-year plan for funding highways, perhaps early next year, said Representative John Mica, senior Republican on the Transportation committee.
The plan will use public-private partnerships, unspent federal dollars and accelerated release of aid to states to generate cash for projects, said Mica of Florida, in line to lead the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as a result of Republicans gaining control in the Nov. 2 election.
“We don’t have to spend a huge amount of more money, but we can leverage the money that we have, or better move the funds that we have, and get things done,” Mica said yesterday in a telephone interview.
Congress, which hasn’t enacted long-term highway legislation since 2005, has been struggling to pass a law that would let states and construction companies plan for projects based on specific levels of federal spending.
A $286.5 billion law passed during the administration of President George W. Bush expired more than a year ago, and transportation programs are operating on temporary extensions. Representative James Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat and chairman of the committee, failed to win backing last year for his proposal to spend $500 billion over six years.
Oberstar, who was defeated in his re-election bid, never specified how the money would be raised.
Mica said he hasn’t determined a spending level for his proposed measure. He said he is a “strong advocate” of public- private partnerships and that he aims to set federal policy and standards under which projects can be pursued.
‘Explosive Amount’
“Once we set the parameters, you’re looking at an explosive amount of investment,” Mica said. South Carolina raises $7 or $8 in private investment for each tax dollar, he said. “We don’t do that at the federal level,” Mica said
Reliance on partnerships would benefit companies including Sydney-based Macquarie Group Ltd., Australia’s largest investment bank, Morgan Stanley of New York and Carlyle Group, the Washington-based private-equity company, which all are seeking infrastructure projects for possible investment.
Federal accounts have unspent funds, Mica said. A railroad- infrastructure finance fund has $34 billion available and a harbor maintenance trust has $5 billion to $6 billion, he said.
Speeding grants to states also will boost effectiveness by meeting pent-up demand, Mica said. Florida can award projects at a 20 percent to 30 percent discount because of the slow economy, he said. “People are hungry for work,” Mica said.
ibid,ibid,ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid,ibid ibid, ibid, ibid, ibidibid
--Editors: Steve Geimann, Larry Liebert
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Union Pacific Chief Young Sees ?Elongated? Economic Rebound
Story Tools
e-mail this story print this story 1diggdiggadd to Business Exchange By John Hughes
Nov. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Raising taxes “is off the table” when the U.S. House votes on a six-year plan for funding highways, perhaps early next year, said Representative John Mica, senior Republican on the Transportation committee.
The plan will use public-private partnerships, unspent federal dollars and accelerated release of aid to states to generate cash for projects, said Mica of Florida, in line to lead the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as a result of Republicans gaining control in the Nov. 2 election.
“We don’t have to spend a huge amount of more money, but we can leverage the money that we have, or better move the funds that we have, and get things done,” Mica said yesterday in a telephone interview.
Congress, which hasn’t enacted long-term highway legislation since 2005, has been struggling to pass a law that would let states and construction companies plan for projects based on specific levels of federal spending.
A $286.5 billion law passed during the administration of President George W. Bush expired more than a year ago, and transportation programs are operating on temporary extensions. Representative James Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat and chairman of the committee, failed to win backing last year for his proposal to spend $500 billion over six years.
Oberstar, who was defeated in his re-election bid, never specified how the money would be raised.
Mica said he hasn’t determined a spending level for his proposed measure. He said he is a “strong advocate” of public- private partnerships and that he aims to set federal policy and standards under which projects can be pursued.
‘Explosive Amount’
“Once we set the parameters, you’re looking at an explosive amount of investment,” Mica said. South Carolina raises $7 or $8 in private investment for each tax dollar, he said. “We don’t do that at the federal level,” Mica said
Reliance on partnerships would benefit companies including Sydney-based Macquarie Group Ltd., Australia’s largest investment bank, Morgan Stanley of New York and Carlyle Group, the Washington-based private-equity company, which all are seeking infrastructure projects for possible investment.
Federal accounts have unspent funds, Mica said. A railroad- infrastructure finance fund has $34 billion available and a harbor maintenance trust has $5 billion to $6 billion, he said.
Speeding grants to states also will boost effectiveness by meeting pent-up demand, Mica said. Florida can award projects at a 20 percent to 30 percent discount because of the slow economy, he said. “People are hungry for work,” Mica said.
ibid,ibid,ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid,ibid ibid, ibid, ibid, ibidibid
--Editors: Steve Geimann, Larry Liebert
Mica's Vision
Suddenly popular, Mica looks to control transportation
Posted: November 8, 2010 - 5:50am
Advertisement
By MORRIS NEWS SERVICE
After his party regained control of the House of Representatives Tuesday night, Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica has been a popular guy.
“I have gotten calls from Secretary of Transportation [Ray] LaHood, calls from the vice president who wants to meet with me, and a lot of press calls,” he said.
Mica, a veteran lawmaker whose district runs from south of Jacksonville to Winter Park, has ascended to Washington D.C.’s version of the cool-kids-table because he almost assuredly will become chairman of the committee that controls transportation policy when the 112th Congress begins in July.
“I will have an excellent shot of leading the biggest committee in Congress,” said Mica, whose confirmation as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is viewed by many as a foregone conclusion.He said his top priority would be grabbing momentum for proposed $500 billion surface transportation bill that has been stalled since he helped write it in 2009.
“We have to get a bill up early this year, because I have to get it through the Senate,” he said. “I only have until about August. That’s when the presidential politics begin.”
The biggest issue surrounding the bill, which is aimed at helping the nation’s aged infrastructure, has been a sufficient funding source. Some industry insiders have brought up the idea of raising the federal gas tax to generate the cash needed to get dirt moving, but Mica said that is “off the table.”
He said money in existing transportation trust funds should instead be used.
“When I have billions sitting in accounts, billions in harbor maintenance that is still sitting there, and unused stimulus money for transportation, I don’t think it’s needed,” he said.
Industry groups have gotten the message.
“The Republicans ran on a platform of reducing federal spending, and no new tax increases. I doubt their will be much talk of new gas taxes or anything like that,” said Jack Schenendorf, a lobbyist for the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, which supports a gas tax increase to fund transportation projects.
He said he does have faith in Mica, who has been the committee’s top Republican for two terms, and says he thinks the industry is “comfortable” with him as chairman.
Another issue soon to hit Mica’s plate is $10 billion recently doled out by President Barack Obama for rail projects. Mica says he wants to reexamine many of the grants to make sure they are not being wasted.
“I have concerns about some of those...[because] they became campaign agenda items. We will look at those, and if states back away, or if the projects prove not to be viable I will do everything I can to redirect the money,” he said.
One of those projects is a proposal connect Tampa, Orlando and eventually Miami. Mica says that he does not want the project to become a “crazy train” that leaves taxpayers on hook for the entire $2 billion cost of the project.
He thinks the private sector should be tapped to help fund the project.“If significant private sector contributions come in, maybe we can fill the gap,” he said.
As a plan B, Mica has discussed the idea of creating a scaled back line between the Orlando airport and the city’s theme parks. Some say that Mica becoming chairman could provide a boost for Northeast Florida.
“I you would expect the person in the highest leadership role would probably get more money for the area they represent,” said Aage Schroder, former Florida Department of Transportation district secretary for Northeast Florida.“I feel good that he really understands the issues impacting the area,” he said.
ibid,ibid,ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid
One of those issues that Mica said is on his radar is working to get railroad terminals at the Port of Jacksonville
Posted: November 8, 2010 - 5:50am
Advertisement
By MORRIS NEWS SERVICE
After his party regained control of the House of Representatives Tuesday night, Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica has been a popular guy.
“I have gotten calls from Secretary of Transportation [Ray] LaHood, calls from the vice president who wants to meet with me, and a lot of press calls,” he said.
Mica, a veteran lawmaker whose district runs from south of Jacksonville to Winter Park, has ascended to Washington D.C.’s version of the cool-kids-table because he almost assuredly will become chairman of the committee that controls transportation policy when the 112th Congress begins in July.
“I will have an excellent shot of leading the biggest committee in Congress,” said Mica, whose confirmation as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is viewed by many as a foregone conclusion.He said his top priority would be grabbing momentum for proposed $500 billion surface transportation bill that has been stalled since he helped write it in 2009.
“We have to get a bill up early this year, because I have to get it through the Senate,” he said. “I only have until about August. That’s when the presidential politics begin.”
The biggest issue surrounding the bill, which is aimed at helping the nation’s aged infrastructure, has been a sufficient funding source. Some industry insiders have brought up the idea of raising the federal gas tax to generate the cash needed to get dirt moving, but Mica said that is “off the table.”
He said money in existing transportation trust funds should instead be used.
“When I have billions sitting in accounts, billions in harbor maintenance that is still sitting there, and unused stimulus money for transportation, I don’t think it’s needed,” he said.
Industry groups have gotten the message.
“The Republicans ran on a platform of reducing federal spending, and no new tax increases. I doubt their will be much talk of new gas taxes or anything like that,” said Jack Schenendorf, a lobbyist for the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, which supports a gas tax increase to fund transportation projects.
He said he does have faith in Mica, who has been the committee’s top Republican for two terms, and says he thinks the industry is “comfortable” with him as chairman.
Another issue soon to hit Mica’s plate is $10 billion recently doled out by President Barack Obama for rail projects. Mica says he wants to reexamine many of the grants to make sure they are not being wasted.
“I have concerns about some of those...[because] they became campaign agenda items. We will look at those, and if states back away, or if the projects prove not to be viable I will do everything I can to redirect the money,” he said.
One of those projects is a proposal connect Tampa, Orlando and eventually Miami. Mica says that he does not want the project to become a “crazy train” that leaves taxpayers on hook for the entire $2 billion cost of the project.
He thinks the private sector should be tapped to help fund the project.“If significant private sector contributions come in, maybe we can fill the gap,” he said.
As a plan B, Mica has discussed the idea of creating a scaled back line between the Orlando airport and the city’s theme parks. Some say that Mica becoming chairman could provide a boost for Northeast Florida.
“I you would expect the person in the highest leadership role would probably get more money for the area they represent,” said Aage Schroder, former Florida Department of Transportation district secretary for Northeast Florida.“I feel good that he really understands the issues impacting the area,” he said.
ibid,ibid,ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid
One of those issues that Mica said is on his radar is working to get railroad terminals at the Port of Jacksonville
End of era of transportation policy influence
Oberstar defeat ends era of transportation policy influence
by Dan Olson, Minnesota Public Radio
November 4, 2010
St. Paul, Minn. — After 36 years in Congress, Rep. Jim Oberstar's defeat means the loss of a lot of clout for Minnesota transportation projects on Capitol Hill.
Oberstar became the chairman of the House Transportation Committee in 2007. While Rep. Tim Walz will still have a seat on the committee as Republicans assume control of the House, a major chapter of Minnesota influence on national transportation policy is coming to a close.
Oberstar told reporters in Duluth Wednesday he has no regrets about votes over his nearly four decades in Congress that brought home millions of dollars for Minnesota transportation projects. He rattled of a list of accomplishments.
"Lives are saved every year on Highway 8 in Chisago County for the improvements that I brought at a citizens committee request," he said. "The lake walk in Duluth will survive long after my service ... The extension of the Sunrise Prairie Trail ... will link eventually Canada and the Twin Cities with a continuous bicycling facility that will be the envy of the nation."
Oberstar led a committee that traditionally stayed above the partisan fray.
Observers say Republicans and Democrats on the committee tend to agree that infrastructure spending creates jobs that boost the economy, but that bipartisan mood does not include agreement on the biggest question: how to pay for transportation projects.
Brookings Institute transportation policy analyst Robert Puentes said the Obama administration and the presumptive transportation committee chairman in the next Congress, Florida Republican Rep. John Mica, both oppose increasing the gas tax.
"And in fact the folks who'd been talking about it the most I think one of them is Mr. Oberstar," he said.l "So, you've lost someone with all the technical and institutional knowledge his tenure on the committee, but you've lost one of those voices who was promoting this as the way forward, the gas tax idea."
Minnesota this year received just over $550 million in federal gas tax revenue for roads and bridges.
Scott Peterson, the Minnesota Department of Transportation's director of legislative affairs, said he is confident the state won't lose any money -- with one possible exception.
The federal highway trust fund is bankrupt because spending exceeds revenue. Congress has applied band aids sending general fund dollars to the fund.
Peterson isn't convinced that will continue.
"Now again with perhaps a renewed emphasis on lowering the deficit I'm not sure we can continue to count on that," he said.
The funding picture for transit is equally cloudy.
The Central Corridor light rail line from Minneapolis to St. Paul needs about $460 million in federal dollars for completion.
The project is very high on the Federal Transit Administration's priority list and is likely to win FTA guarantee of funding soon.
But funding for a proposed light rail line from Minneapolis to the southwestern metro is less certain, even though Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin said the project has strong support in traditional Republican territory.
"You've got chambers of commerce along that entire southwest corridor that are incredibly supportive of this," he said.
McLaughlin says the defeat of Oberstar, a passenger rail advocate, means money for commuter rail and for a high speed passenger rail link from Chicago to St. Paul is less likely.
Washington lobbyist Dennis McGrann said the end of Oberstar's long run closes a chapter in transportation history. McGrann, who directs the Washington, D.C. office for the Minneapolis law firm Lockridge Grindal Nauen, notes that former Minnesota congressman John Blatnik, one of Oberstar's mentors, former Rep. Martin Sabo and then Oberstar all held powerful transportation and appropriations leadership positions in Congress.
"Minnesota has had, if you will, nearly 60 years of leadership on transportation policy, transportation issues," he said.
That, combined with the departure of veteran state lawmakers with transportation funding experience raises questions about the funding future for a range of state road, bridge and transit projects.
The chairman of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Division, Bernie Lieder, DFL-Crookston, lost his re-election bid after 13 terms, and Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing Falls, decided not to seek reelection.
by Dan Olson, Minnesota Public Radio
November 4, 2010
LISTEN
Embed | Help
Copy and paste the HTML below to embed this audio onto your web page.
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sponsor:St. Paul, Minn. — After 36 years in Congress, Rep. Jim Oberstar's defeat means the loss of a lot of clout for Minnesota transportation projects on Capitol Hill.
Oberstar became the chairman of the House Transportation Committee in 2007. While Rep. Tim Walz will still have a seat on the committee as Republicans assume control of the House, a major chapter of Minnesota influence on national transportation policy is coming to a close.
Oberstar told reporters in Duluth Wednesday he has no regrets about votes over his nearly four decades in Congress that brought home millions of dollars for Minnesota transportation projects. He rattled of a list of accomplishments.
"Lives are saved every year on Highway 8 in Chisago County for the improvements that I brought at a citizens committee request," he said. "The lake walk in Duluth will survive long after my service ... The extension of the Sunrise Prairie Trail ... will link eventually Canada and the Twin Cities with a continuous bicycling facility that will be the envy of the nation."
Oberstar led a committee that traditionally stayed above the partisan fray.
Observers say Republicans and Democrats on the committee tend to agree that infrastructure spending creates jobs that boost the economy, but that bipartisan mood does not include agreement on the biggest question: how to pay for transportation projects.
Brookings Institute transportation policy analyst Robert Puentes said the Obama administration and the presumptive transportation committee chairman in the next Congress, Florida Republican Rep. John Mica, both oppose increasing the gas tax.
"And in fact the folks who'd been talking about it the most I think one of them is Mr. Oberstar," he said.l "So, you've lost someone with all the technical and institutional knowledge his tenure on the committee, but you've lost one of those voices who was promoting this as the way forward, the gas tax idea."
Minnesota this year received just over $550 million in federal gas tax revenue for roads and bridges.
Scott Peterson, the Minnesota Department of Transportation's director of legislative affairs, said he is confident the state won't lose any money -- with one possible exception.
The federal highway trust fund is bankrupt because spending exceeds revenue. Congress has applied band aids sending general fund dollars to the fund.
Peterson isn't convinced that will continue.
"Now again with perhaps a renewed emphasis on lowering the deficit I'm not sure we can continue to count on that," he said.
The funding picture for transit is equally cloudy.
The Central Corridor light rail line from Minneapolis to St. Paul needs about $460 million in federal dollars for completion.
The project is very high on the Federal Transit Administration's priority list and is likely to win FTA guarantee of funding soon.
But funding for a proposed light rail line from Minneapolis to the southwestern metro is less certain, even though Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin said the project has strong support in traditional Republican territory.
"You've got chambers of commerce along that entire southwest corridor that are incredibly supportive of this," he said.
McLaughlin says the defeat of Oberstar, a passenger rail advocate, means money for commuter rail and for a high speed passenger rail link from Chicago to St. Paul is less likely.
Washington lobbyist Dennis McGrann said the end of Oberstar's long run closes a chapter in transportation history. McGrann, who directs the Washington, D.C. office for the Minneapolis law firm Lockridge Grindal Nauen, notes that former Minnesota congressman John Blatnik, one of Oberstar's mentors, former Rep. Martin Sabo and then Oberstar all held powerful transportation and appropriations leadership positions in Congress.
ibid,ibid,ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid,
"Minnesota has had, if you will, nearly 60 years of leadership on transportation policy, transportation issues," he said.
That, combined with the departure of veteran state lawmakers with transportation funding experience raises questions about the funding future for a range of state road, bridge and transit projects.
The chairman of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Division, Bernie Lieder, DFL-Crookston, lost his re-election bid after 13 terms, and Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing Falls, decided not to seek reelection.
by Dan Olson, Minnesota Public Radio
November 4, 2010
St. Paul, Minn. — After 36 years in Congress, Rep. Jim Oberstar's defeat means the loss of a lot of clout for Minnesota transportation projects on Capitol Hill.
Oberstar became the chairman of the House Transportation Committee in 2007. While Rep. Tim Walz will still have a seat on the committee as Republicans assume control of the House, a major chapter of Minnesota influence on national transportation policy is coming to a close.
Oberstar told reporters in Duluth Wednesday he has no regrets about votes over his nearly four decades in Congress that brought home millions of dollars for Minnesota transportation projects. He rattled of a list of accomplishments.
"Lives are saved every year on Highway 8 in Chisago County for the improvements that I brought at a citizens committee request," he said. "The lake walk in Duluth will survive long after my service ... The extension of the Sunrise Prairie Trail ... will link eventually Canada and the Twin Cities with a continuous bicycling facility that will be the envy of the nation."
Oberstar led a committee that traditionally stayed above the partisan fray.
Observers say Republicans and Democrats on the committee tend to agree that infrastructure spending creates jobs that boost the economy, but that bipartisan mood does not include agreement on the biggest question: how to pay for transportation projects.
Brookings Institute transportation policy analyst Robert Puentes said the Obama administration and the presumptive transportation committee chairman in the next Congress, Florida Republican Rep. John Mica, both oppose increasing the gas tax.
"And in fact the folks who'd been talking about it the most I think one of them is Mr. Oberstar," he said.l "So, you've lost someone with all the technical and institutional knowledge his tenure on the committee, but you've lost one of those voices who was promoting this as the way forward, the gas tax idea."
Minnesota this year received just over $550 million in federal gas tax revenue for roads and bridges.
Scott Peterson, the Minnesota Department of Transportation's director of legislative affairs, said he is confident the state won't lose any money -- with one possible exception.
The federal highway trust fund is bankrupt because spending exceeds revenue. Congress has applied band aids sending general fund dollars to the fund.
Peterson isn't convinced that will continue.
"Now again with perhaps a renewed emphasis on lowering the deficit I'm not sure we can continue to count on that," he said.
The funding picture for transit is equally cloudy.
The Central Corridor light rail line from Minneapolis to St. Paul needs about $460 million in federal dollars for completion.
The project is very high on the Federal Transit Administration's priority list and is likely to win FTA guarantee of funding soon.
But funding for a proposed light rail line from Minneapolis to the southwestern metro is less certain, even though Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin said the project has strong support in traditional Republican territory.
"You've got chambers of commerce along that entire southwest corridor that are incredibly supportive of this," he said.
McLaughlin says the defeat of Oberstar, a passenger rail advocate, means money for commuter rail and for a high speed passenger rail link from Chicago to St. Paul is less likely.
Washington lobbyist Dennis McGrann said the end of Oberstar's long run closes a chapter in transportation history. McGrann, who directs the Washington, D.C. office for the Minneapolis law firm Lockridge Grindal Nauen, notes that former Minnesota congressman John Blatnik, one of Oberstar's mentors, former Rep. Martin Sabo and then Oberstar all held powerful transportation and appropriations leadership positions in Congress.
"Minnesota has had, if you will, nearly 60 years of leadership on transportation policy, transportation issues," he said.
That, combined with the departure of veteran state lawmakers with transportation funding experience raises questions about the funding future for a range of state road, bridge and transit projects.
The chairman of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Division, Bernie Lieder, DFL-Crookston, lost his re-election bid after 13 terms, and Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing Falls, decided not to seek reelection.
by Dan Olson, Minnesota Public Radio
November 4, 2010
LISTEN
Embed | Help
Copy and paste the HTML below to embed this audio onto your web page.
Audio player code:
sponsor:St. Paul, Minn. — After 36 years in Congress, Rep. Jim Oberstar's defeat means the loss of a lot of clout for Minnesota transportation projects on Capitol Hill.
Oberstar became the chairman of the House Transportation Committee in 2007. While Rep. Tim Walz will still have a seat on the committee as Republicans assume control of the House, a major chapter of Minnesota influence on national transportation policy is coming to a close.
Oberstar told reporters in Duluth Wednesday he has no regrets about votes over his nearly four decades in Congress that brought home millions of dollars for Minnesota transportation projects. He rattled of a list of accomplishments.
"Lives are saved every year on Highway 8 in Chisago County for the improvements that I brought at a citizens committee request," he said. "The lake walk in Duluth will survive long after my service ... The extension of the Sunrise Prairie Trail ... will link eventually Canada and the Twin Cities with a continuous bicycling facility that will be the envy of the nation."
Oberstar led a committee that traditionally stayed above the partisan fray.
Observers say Republicans and Democrats on the committee tend to agree that infrastructure spending creates jobs that boost the economy, but that bipartisan mood does not include agreement on the biggest question: how to pay for transportation projects.
Brookings Institute transportation policy analyst Robert Puentes said the Obama administration and the presumptive transportation committee chairman in the next Congress, Florida Republican Rep. John Mica, both oppose increasing the gas tax.
"And in fact the folks who'd been talking about it the most I think one of them is Mr. Oberstar," he said.l "So, you've lost someone with all the technical and institutional knowledge his tenure on the committee, but you've lost one of those voices who was promoting this as the way forward, the gas tax idea."
Minnesota this year received just over $550 million in federal gas tax revenue for roads and bridges.
Scott Peterson, the Minnesota Department of Transportation's director of legislative affairs, said he is confident the state won't lose any money -- with one possible exception.
The federal highway trust fund is bankrupt because spending exceeds revenue. Congress has applied band aids sending general fund dollars to the fund.
Peterson isn't convinced that will continue.
"Now again with perhaps a renewed emphasis on lowering the deficit I'm not sure we can continue to count on that," he said.
The funding picture for transit is equally cloudy.
The Central Corridor light rail line from Minneapolis to St. Paul needs about $460 million in federal dollars for completion.
The project is very high on the Federal Transit Administration's priority list and is likely to win FTA guarantee of funding soon.
But funding for a proposed light rail line from Minneapolis to the southwestern metro is less certain, even though Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin said the project has strong support in traditional Republican territory.
"You've got chambers of commerce along that entire southwest corridor that are incredibly supportive of this," he said.
McLaughlin says the defeat of Oberstar, a passenger rail advocate, means money for commuter rail and for a high speed passenger rail link from Chicago to St. Paul is less likely.
Washington lobbyist Dennis McGrann said the end of Oberstar's long run closes a chapter in transportation history. McGrann, who directs the Washington, D.C. office for the Minneapolis law firm Lockridge Grindal Nauen, notes that former Minnesota congressman John Blatnik, one of Oberstar's mentors, former Rep. Martin Sabo and then Oberstar all held powerful transportation and appropriations leadership positions in Congress.
ibid,ibid,ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid,
"Minnesota has had, if you will, nearly 60 years of leadership on transportation policy, transportation issues," he said.
That, combined with the departure of veteran state lawmakers with transportation funding experience raises questions about the funding future for a range of state road, bridge and transit projects.
The chairman of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Division, Bernie Lieder, DFL-Crookston, lost his re-election bid after 13 terms, and Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing Falls, decided not to seek reelection.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Likely New US House of Representatives Chairs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After winning control of the House of Representatives in Tuesday's midterm elections, Republicans will take over the chamber's powerful committees when the new Congress convenes in January.
Committee chairs, working with party leaders, set agendas and take the lead in drafting laws in their jurisdictions -- from defense and education to farming and banking.
They can also call investigative hearings on a variety of matters -- including federal programs, suspected corporate wrongdoing or White House actions -- and seek subpoenas to compel witnesses to testify.
Here is a look at some of the likely new chairs:
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Representative Jerry Lewis of California, first elected to the House in 1978, would need a waiver to become chairman because of Republican term limits on committee positions. If he does not get it, next in line could be Hal Rogers of Kentucky.
Regardless who ends up as chair, the job will be to slash spending. Republicans vow to save $100 billion next year by cutting U.S. spending to 2008 levels, with exceptions for programs for the elderly, U.S. troops and military veterans. The committee decides spending for various federal programs.
HOUSE BUDGET
Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, one of the House Republican "Young Guns," would likely chair this panel, which sets overall federal spending targets and estimates U.S. tax revenues. Determined to cut record U.S. deficits, Ryan has offered "A Roadmap for America's Future" that calls for gradually raising the retirement age to 70, reducing future Social Security benefits for the rich and capping Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Democrats have blasted the plan and many Republicans, at least so far, have been reluctant to back it.
HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES
Spencer Bachus of Alabama seems likely to chair the committee, taking the gavel from Democrat Barney Frank, a chief architect of Obama's crackdown on Wall Street that included tightening regulation of the financial industry. Bachus has said he would try to roll back portions of the sweeping law and overhaul the housing finance system.
HOUSE OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
Darrell Issa of California vows a much more inquiring committee next year if, as expected, he takes over as chair. Republicans are expected to push a bevy of probes, including one into what it denounces as Obama's failed $814 billion economic stimulus program.
HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
Joe Barton of Texas would need a waiver to chair the panel because of Republican term limits, and that might be tough. He riled Republicans as well as Democrats in June when he apologized to BP, saying it had been the victim of a White House "shake down" by having to set aside a $20 billion fund for victims of its Gulf oil spill. If Barton doesn't become chair, the job would likely go to Fred Upton of Michigan. Regardless who gets the job, Republicans are likely to make a renewed push for nuclear energy and opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES
Howard McKeon of California is in line to chair the panel, which will help oversees Obama's troop buildup in Afghanistan and planned withdrawal next year. As the panel's top Republican, McKeon unsuccessfully pushed this year to increase defense spending, particularly on ballistic missiles.
HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, the first Cuban-American and the first Hispanic woman elected to Congress, is in line to chair the committee. A member of the House since 1989, she opposes legislation to ease travel and trade restrictions with Cuba.
HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS
Dave Camp of Michigan, a key figure in the 1996 overhaul of the U.S. welfare system, is in line to chair this panel that writes tax laws. Camp would take a lead role in Republicans' drive to create jobs by reducing taxes. He also promises to push for approval of free-trade agreements drafted during the Bush administration with Panama, Colombia and South Korea that have been blocked by Democrats. A Republican-run panel also would be pivotal to the party's bid to repeal Obama's healthcare law or parts of it.
(Reporting and writing by Tom Ferraro; Additional reporting by Kevin Drawbaugh, John Crawley, Doug Palmer, Susan Cornwell, Chuck Abbott, Andy Sullivan and Richard Cowan, editing by Christopher Wilson)
Committee chairs, working with party leaders, set agendas and take the lead in drafting laws in their jurisdictions -- from defense and education to farming and banking.
They can also call investigative hearings on a variety of matters -- including federal programs, suspected corporate wrongdoing or White House actions -- and seek subpoenas to compel witnesses to testify.
Here is a look at some of the likely new chairs:
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Representative Jerry Lewis of California, first elected to the House in 1978, would need a waiver to become chairman because of Republican term limits on committee positions. If he does not get it, next in line could be Hal Rogers of Kentucky.
Regardless who ends up as chair, the job will be to slash spending. Republicans vow to save $100 billion next year by cutting U.S. spending to 2008 levels, with exceptions for programs for the elderly, U.S. troops and military veterans. The committee decides spending for various federal programs.
HOUSE BUDGET
Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, one of the House Republican "Young Guns," would likely chair this panel, which sets overall federal spending targets and estimates U.S. tax revenues. Determined to cut record U.S. deficits, Ryan has offered "A Roadmap for America's Future" that calls for gradually raising the retirement age to 70, reducing future Social Security benefits for the rich and capping Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Democrats have blasted the plan and many Republicans, at least so far, have been reluctant to back it.
HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES
Spencer Bachus of Alabama seems likely to chair the committee, taking the gavel from Democrat Barney Frank, a chief architect of Obama's crackdown on Wall Street that included tightening regulation of the financial industry. Bachus has said he would try to roll back portions of the sweeping law and overhaul the housing finance system.
HOUSE OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
Darrell Issa of California vows a much more inquiring committee next year if, as expected, he takes over as chair. Republicans are expected to push a bevy of probes, including one into what it denounces as Obama's failed $814 billion economic stimulus program.
HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
Joe Barton of Texas would need a waiver to chair the panel because of Republican term limits, and that might be tough. He riled Republicans as well as Democrats in June when he apologized to BP, saying it had been the victim of a White House "shake down" by having to set aside a $20 billion fund for victims of its Gulf oil spill. If Barton doesn't become chair, the job would likely go to Fred Upton of Michigan. Regardless who gets the job, Republicans are likely to make a renewed push for nuclear energy and opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES
Howard McKeon of California is in line to chair the panel, which will help oversees Obama's troop buildup in Afghanistan and planned withdrawal next year. As the panel's top Republican, McKeon unsuccessfully pushed this year to increase defense spending, particularly on ballistic missiles.
HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, the first Cuban-American and the first Hispanic woman elected to Congress, is in line to chair the committee. A member of the House since 1989, she opposes legislation to ease travel and trade restrictions with Cuba.
HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS
Dave Camp of Michigan, a key figure in the 1996 overhaul of the U.S. welfare system, is in line to chair this panel that writes tax laws. Camp would take a lead role in Republicans' drive to create jobs by reducing taxes. He also promises to push for approval of free-trade agreements drafted during the Bush administration with Panama, Colombia and South Korea that have been blocked by Democrats. A Republican-run panel also would be pivotal to the party's bid to repeal Obama's healthcare law or parts of it.
(Reporting and writing by Tom Ferraro; Additional reporting by Kevin Drawbaugh, John Crawley, Doug Palmer, Susan Cornwell, Chuck Abbott, Andy Sullivan and Richard Cowan, editing by Christopher Wilson)
Policy Impacts of Transitions in Congress
WASHINGTON | Wed Nov 3, 2010 6:14am EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican gains in Congress could have a profound effect on policy, from climate change legislation to the budget deficit.
Republicans will take control of the House of Representatives and have a much stronger position in the Senate in 2011 after voters on Tuesday punished Democrats over concerns about the weak U.S. economy.
Here are some questions and answers about how Congress, with stronger Republican influence, could handle key issues:
HOW WILL REPUBLICAN CONTROL AFFECT THE AGENDA?
The party that controls the House holds crucial power, taking the lead in writing bills and deciding which to bring up for a vote and when. A Republican House could pass legislation, such as promised tax relief, on simple majority votes without any Democratic support.
Democrats will still hold the Senate, but Republicans will have a much stronger position and more leverage in negotiations thanks to their party running the House. Democrats also lack the 60 votes necessary in the Senate to stop a procedural hurdle known as filibuster, which gives Republicans power to block legislation.
The split between the House and the Senate is likely to cause gridlock, and analysts say Congress might only pass mandatory spending bills and non-controversial measures.
WHAT ARE SOME REPUBLICAN PRIORITIES?
House Republican leaders will push their "Pledge to America," a governing agenda they say would create jobs, cut taxes and shrink government.
While short on specifics, the plan calls for saving $100 billion next year by scaling back spending to 2008 levels (with exceptions for the elderly and U.S. troops), ending government control of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and imposing a freeze on federal hiring. Although Obama is unlikely to sign many or any of the Republican proposals into law, they set markers in what could be a rough fight in the final two years of his presidential term.
WHAT HAPPENS TO TAXES?
Tax cuts brought in by former President George W. Bush run out at the end of 2010, on the watch of the current Congress that ends its term in December.
If lawmakers fail to extend the cuts due to partisan differences, Republicans are certain to try to renew them in early 2011 once the new Congress starts.
Obama and most Democrats want to renew tax cuts only for individual annual incomes below $200,000 and for family incomes below $250,000. Republicans want to extend all of the tax cuts, including for any income above those levels.
WILL REPUBLICANS REPEAL OBAMA'S HEALTHCARE LAW?
Republicans will not have the votes to override an Obama veto of any legislation to repeal his healthcare reform. But they could try to cut off funding to prevent full implementation of the landmark program, which passed Congress without Republican support.
Republican John Boehner, in line to become House speaker after his party's win on Tuesday, recently said he was committed to do everything he can to overturn the reform.
But Ethan Siegal of the Washington Exchange, a private firm that tracks Congress for investors, said: "It's going to be very difficult for Republicans to defund, defang, kill or impede healthcare reform legislatively."
HOW WILL CONGRESS TACKLE THE DEFICIT?
A presidential panel is set to make recommendations on December 1 on tackling a budget deficit of $1.3 trillion for the fiscal year to September 30. With voters alarmed about the U.S. fiscal gap and the pace of federal spending, the deficit debate is certain to get renewed attention next year. Republicans favor spending cuts over tax hikes but some deficit hawks say everything should be on the table. Among possible solutions: cutting retirement benefits, reforming federally funded healthcare programs, and reforming the tax code.
WHAT HAPPENS TO OBAMA'S WALL STREET CRACKDOWN?
Republicans want to roll back the landmark Wall Street reforms enacted in July but tinkering around the edges may be all they can muster.
Analysts see little to no chance of a full dismantling of the law meant to prevent a repeat of the 2007-2008 financial crisis that set off the worst U.S. recession in generations.
Republicans are targeting specific provisions of the reforms, such as funding for the new consumer watchdog. On such narrow issues, they might get some traction.
CLIMATE-CHANGE LEGISLATION
Republicans could be positioned to reverse Democrats' already stalled drive for comprehensive climate control legislation.
The Republican takeover of the House and the party's gains in the Senate will make it harder -- if not impossible -- for Obama to win legislation imposing mandatory reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from smokestacks and tailpipes.
Obama would still have the regulatory power to steer the country away from polluting fuels such as coal and oil but Republicans could counter by trying to deny funds.
WHAT ABOUT INVESTIGATIVE HEARINGS?
Republicans will take over the chairmanships of powerful committees in the House that can hold investigative hearings into administration actions, from the war in Afghanistan to the cleanup of the BP oil spill.
Republicans promise plenty of hearings, including some into Obama's $814 billion economic stimulus plan.
ANY SIGN OF ENERGY LEGISLATION?
Congress might manage to pass a bill this year to reform offshore oil drilling practices in the wake of the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico. If it does not, the effort likely would be revived next year but again face hurdles.
A more heavily Republican Congress could see a renewed push to open drilling in protected areas like Alaska's wilderness.
Republicans will push for more government support for the nuclear power industry. One bill with bipartisan support that could advance: legislation requiring electric utilities to generate 15 percent of their power from renewable sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric by 2021.
(Additional reporting by Richard Cowan and Kevin Drawbaugh)
ibid,ibid,ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid,
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican gains in Congress could have a profound effect on policy, from climate change legislation to the budget deficit.
Republicans will take control of the House of Representatives and have a much stronger position in the Senate in 2011 after voters on Tuesday punished Democrats over concerns about the weak U.S. economy.
Here are some questions and answers about how Congress, with stronger Republican influence, could handle key issues:
HOW WILL REPUBLICAN CONTROL AFFECT THE AGENDA?
The party that controls the House holds crucial power, taking the lead in writing bills and deciding which to bring up for a vote and when. A Republican House could pass legislation, such as promised tax relief, on simple majority votes without any Democratic support.
Democrats will still hold the Senate, but Republicans will have a much stronger position and more leverage in negotiations thanks to their party running the House. Democrats also lack the 60 votes necessary in the Senate to stop a procedural hurdle known as filibuster, which gives Republicans power to block legislation.
The split between the House and the Senate is likely to cause gridlock, and analysts say Congress might only pass mandatory spending bills and non-controversial measures.
WHAT ARE SOME REPUBLICAN PRIORITIES?
House Republican leaders will push their "Pledge to America," a governing agenda they say would create jobs, cut taxes and shrink government.
While short on specifics, the plan calls for saving $100 billion next year by scaling back spending to 2008 levels (with exceptions for the elderly and U.S. troops), ending government control of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and imposing a freeze on federal hiring. Although Obama is unlikely to sign many or any of the Republican proposals into law, they set markers in what could be a rough fight in the final two years of his presidential term.
WHAT HAPPENS TO TAXES?
Tax cuts brought in by former President George W. Bush run out at the end of 2010, on the watch of the current Congress that ends its term in December.
If lawmakers fail to extend the cuts due to partisan differences, Republicans are certain to try to renew them in early 2011 once the new Congress starts.
Obama and most Democrats want to renew tax cuts only for individual annual incomes below $200,000 and for family incomes below $250,000. Republicans want to extend all of the tax cuts, including for any income above those levels.
WILL REPUBLICANS REPEAL OBAMA'S HEALTHCARE LAW?
Republicans will not have the votes to override an Obama veto of any legislation to repeal his healthcare reform. But they could try to cut off funding to prevent full implementation of the landmark program, which passed Congress without Republican support.
Republican John Boehner, in line to become House speaker after his party's win on Tuesday, recently said he was committed to do everything he can to overturn the reform.
But Ethan Siegal of the Washington Exchange, a private firm that tracks Congress for investors, said: "It's going to be very difficult for Republicans to defund, defang, kill or impede healthcare reform legislatively."
HOW WILL CONGRESS TACKLE THE DEFICIT?
A presidential panel is set to make recommendations on December 1 on tackling a budget deficit of $1.3 trillion for the fiscal year to September 30. With voters alarmed about the U.S. fiscal gap and the pace of federal spending, the deficit debate is certain to get renewed attention next year. Republicans favor spending cuts over tax hikes but some deficit hawks say everything should be on the table. Among possible solutions: cutting retirement benefits, reforming federally funded healthcare programs, and reforming the tax code.
WHAT HAPPENS TO OBAMA'S WALL STREET CRACKDOWN?
Republicans want to roll back the landmark Wall Street reforms enacted in July but tinkering around the edges may be all they can muster.
Analysts see little to no chance of a full dismantling of the law meant to prevent a repeat of the 2007-2008 financial crisis that set off the worst U.S. recession in generations.
Republicans are targeting specific provisions of the reforms, such as funding for the new consumer watchdog. On such narrow issues, they might get some traction.
CLIMATE-CHANGE LEGISLATION
Republicans could be positioned to reverse Democrats' already stalled drive for comprehensive climate control legislation.
The Republican takeover of the House and the party's gains in the Senate will make it harder -- if not impossible -- for Obama to win legislation imposing mandatory reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from smokestacks and tailpipes.
Obama would still have the regulatory power to steer the country away from polluting fuels such as coal and oil but Republicans could counter by trying to deny funds.
WHAT ABOUT INVESTIGATIVE HEARINGS?
Republicans will take over the chairmanships of powerful committees in the House that can hold investigative hearings into administration actions, from the war in Afghanistan to the cleanup of the BP oil spill.
Republicans promise plenty of hearings, including some into Obama's $814 billion economic stimulus plan.
ANY SIGN OF ENERGY LEGISLATION?
Congress might manage to pass a bill this year to reform offshore oil drilling practices in the wake of the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico. If it does not, the effort likely would be revived next year but again face hurdles.
A more heavily Republican Congress could see a renewed push to open drilling in protected areas like Alaska's wilderness.
Republicans will push for more government support for the nuclear power industry. One bill with bipartisan support that could advance: legislation requiring electric utilities to generate 15 percent of their power from renewable sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric by 2021.
(Additional reporting by Richard Cowan and Kevin Drawbaugh)
ibid,ibid,ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid, ibid,
Dan Malloy Connecticut Gubernatorial AP Release
AP issued a statement that Foley has a lead of 8,424 votes over Malloy, w all but 1.5% of the precincts in. Let's analyze that statement: 1.5% represents 18K outstanding votes, far larger than the margins under consideration. The AP "contribution" is undeterminative and adds nothing, one way or the other, to our understanding of the situation. It should NOT be confused for something more significant. Susan Byciewicz will be releasing official (significant) tallies at noon.
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