Maryland Water Main Break Highlights Need For Infrastructure Spending In Federal Stimulus
Maryland Water Main Break Highlights Need For Infrastructure Spending In Federal Stimulus
A water main break in Maryland this morning trapped a dozen commuters in their cars and sent rescuers scrambling to pull motorists from frigid floodwaters. “I thought it might be a minor leak, then suddenly I stepped outside and, ‘My God!’” said one witness. “It looked literally like the Potomac River.” “Your first inclination is that’s crazy. That could never happen,” Fire Capt. Frank Doyle said. “You never expect to see something like this.”
But in fact, “officials have warned for years that the system is in need of repairs, saying many pipes are decades old and worn down by ground water and acidic soil. In 2007, the system reported a record 2,129 pipe breaks, which generally result in cut-offs in service and road flooding.”
In Feb. 2008, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission decided against imposing a new fee on water rates that would have funded the replacement of aging pipes. The Commission was concerned it would be unfair to low-income customers. The Commission’s now-retired General Manager, Andrew Brunhart, warned at the time:
Brunhart, a retired Navy engineer, told commissioners that, absent the infrastructure fee, he would recommend dropping the words “entrusted,” “reliable” and “clean” from the WSSC mission statement.
“In my view, the public will no longer be able to trust the system that delivers water to residents,” he said.
This incident underscores the vital need for including infrastructure funding in the upcoming economic stimulus bill. Maryland, like so many other states, is facing a budget crunch to deal with its much-needed repairs. Gov. Martin O’Malley has been urging President-elect Obama to make an early investment in infrastructure. “Not only would an infusion of funds help keep people employed and create new jobs,” O’Malley said, “it would allow us to deliver infrastructure improvements that will last beyond the immediate economic crisis and benefit generations to come.”
In an interview with Washington DC’s CBS affiliate WUSA9, Montgomery Country council member Roger Berliner stressed the point, saying the state is suffering an “epidemic” of infrastructure breakdowns. “We simply don’t have the money to take care of it,” he said. “We need help from the federal government.” Watch it:
While President Bush has stubbornly refused to address the need for immediate infrastructure investments, President-elect Obama has expressed his strong desire to make it a priority.
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Ok this is bullshit…if they massively overhaul American infrastructure I won’t have access to clean drinking water! I’ve been exploiting a crack in a nearby water main for years and routing it into my house because i can’t afford hydro. I had to steal coins from a wishing fountain just to get enough to spend 10 minutes in an internet cafe to post this! Please please please Mr. Obama, DO NOT INVEST FEDERAL DOLLARS IN INFRASTRUCTURE!
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:25 pmnever mind.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:31 pmI heard on NPR the other day that Sarasota’s reservoir has cracks in it and we are loosing water too.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:31 pmlosing. saorry.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:31 pmHaven’t they heard that a house is only as strong as its foundation?
By ignoring the infrastructure, the Bush Administration and its cronies have put more Americans at risk than any real or imagined terrorist threat.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:34 pmcornstarch, are you also using that starch to deal with excess asscrack moisture as most low wage food service folk do or do you prefer the goldbond?
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:37 pmAs much as I hate the Bushies, they are no more responsible for this than previous administrations or state administrations around the country. Here in Oregon there is a terrifyingly long list of bridges and overpasses that should have been repaired or replaced years ago and are in danger of collapse. Governments always manage to find money for new projects, but maintenance is well down the list, probably because it’s not as glamorous as a new bridge.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 pmUnfortunately improving our infrastructure was not as profitable as starting wars for the Bushies. Shameful!
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:42 pmPresident Bush has stubbornly refused to address the need for immediate infrastructure investments….
….Bush’s Priorities…
Does it kill people? No, then forget it.
Does it make oodles of money for my corporate bubbies? No, then forget it.
Does it help the Repukian Mafia in anyway? No, then forget it.
Does it help the Average Joe? Yes, then forget it, not going to happen.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:51 pmThe United States of Zimbabwe.
Thanks Chimpy and Dick.
-G
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:57 pmgummitch Says:
Heck, they can’t even finish what projects they have going before throwing money at a new one. Here in NC, lots are upset that I-485 (around Charlotte) won’t be finished until 2018. Meanwhile, the legislature has transferred $25 million to start work early on the extension of I-540 (around Raliegh, the state capital, natch), a project which will probably cost at least $500 million, and is of questionalble utility.
Later,
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:58 pmInvesting in the infrastucture implies that you plan on sticking around or that you actually care about the future.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:01 pmThis is such an obvious why to start putting people back to work I have to assume it’s not going to work. I mean the government could spend money put people to work and actually get something for the money. Nah let’s pi$$ it down a rat hole like Iraq put 150K to work kill 3 or 4 % of them and not get jacks*it for it
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:04 pmTrue, here they built a new arena while 60% of our bridges failed inspection and the roads are so potholed you can’t hardly drive on them. The new arena doesn’t have enough parking and ticket prices went from $20-30 to $180-250 gen admission.
Hope they have to eat the monstrosity.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:10 pmThat seems to be your forte nettie. Many people agree with the sentiment as reflected in the article:
Not only that but several here have noted that local governments have some responsiblity too but the largest funding for such projects always comes from the fed……kinda makes you look like a flake doesn’t it?
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:14 pmLearn how to read, Nettles. Your scathing “logic” is ridiculous. I love it when Snitty not-Libs think they’re being logical though. Go ahead.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:16 pmHi Nettles
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:20 pmvinylspear Says:
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 pmInvesting in the infrastucture implies that you plan on sticking around or that you actually care about the future.
I wish I could recommend your comment more than once I’ll settle for saying spot on
dbadass, I think he’s scuttled back under the fridge.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm…and Skittles comes out swingin’!
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:27 pmNo one was injured, tho, as no punches were landed.
But it does make Skittles look like an idiot, flailing away like a 6 year old swatting away a perceived insect.
So Nettles, might you offer up those failures which you feel should be attributed to GWB?
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:32 pmThanks
Wait, my Ayn Rand CliffNotes say that government is not the answer and that the profit driven self-interest of the free market solves everything. Shouldn’t we just sell all the roads, bridges, etc. to the highest bidder and willingly pay tolls for all eternity? I mean, what could possibly go wrong? (practicing taunts for my holiday visit with winger inlaws)
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:41 pmNettles would be much more upset if it was HIS bridge that collapsed. Of course, his is a little footbridge in the middle of a forest.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pmSeems a reasonable list Nettles. Would you like an opportunity to offer those things you see as successes?
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:19 pmYou must love it!!!!!!! I know I do.
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:51 pmSounds like Hurricane Katrina…Many warnings…but no actions.
December 23rd, 2008 at 5:03 pmMinnesota collapsed bridge …..Many warnings…but no actions.
And now this…
We need to invest money in our aging infrastructure,before we see more of these disasters in the coming months and years..
John Kerry:
December 23rd, 2008 at 5:24 pmDamn it must be the scent.
I just finished up some pork chops in a cider/honey mead reduction, a basic sour cream pontiac potato mash with lots of fresh cracked black, and some pf corn. Plenty still warm if you want to plot a squat and have that chat. Scared Still?
But that would be an earmark, since it’s for a specific thing in a specific state. Obama’s team said today that they wouldn’t sign a stimulus bill that had earmarks.
Which is kinda retarded, since most all stimulus spending is earmarks, by its very nature.
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:14 pmdbadass, I may be wrong but I don’t think they are too interested in your great food when they are smoking the crack…..just sayin. I on the otherhand, love porkchops cooked in honey wine…….always love to hear your enticements….
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:01 pmNettles Says:
That makes us even I love hearing moronic conservotards snivelling WWWWAAAAAAHHHHHHH stop acting like Bush had a NORMAL IQ, like he was supposed to THINK about infrastructure after the bridge collapse in Minnesota. WWWWWAAHHHHHHH nothing is EVER a conservatives fault WWWWWAAHHHHHHHHHH. You guys are so pathetic its just sad
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:22 pmNettles Says:
So Nettles, might you offer up those failures which you feel should be attributed to GWB?
Thanks
No problem:
-Putting Richard Clarke and the terrorist threat on the back-burner in the admin’s first weeks.
-Not replacing Rumsfeld after his 2004 re-election.
-Failure to win the peace in Baghdad.
-Hoodwinking the American public that Iraq was more of a threat than it was (that week with the common refrain of “mushroom cloud”, used by both he and C. Rice was disingenuous).
-Failure to take a more active role in African genocide.
-Stem-cell research.
There’s probably others, including too many “loafer -in-mouth” cringe-worthy quotes to list, but I’ll stick with this for now.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ok so I was absolutly wrong. You are NOT a snivelling conservative. That is a pretty good list. While Bush isnt ENTIRELY blameless I have to admit that this is a big country and there is a LOT of infrastructure it would be impossible to figure out which would be the next to go.
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:25 pmHe would look better had he done ANYTHING for our infrastructure but no, I cant blame this particular thing on Bush and I do think its a bit weak.
Yes, but look at how those unfortunate people were able to get themselves a bath. And a nice, bracing, cold one at that! so you see, they’ve really made out well from this…
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:15 pmTis another warning. You and I must repair our country. We can no longer depend on our government to do its job duly appointed by the Constitution. From within ourselves must come a new attitude that will lead to taking care of our planet, ourselves, and all those around us. It is time, this Christmas season, to begin.
December 24th, 2008 at 8:17 am