Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Vitter lashes Jones' delay of connector
NEWS STAR
By Greg Hilburn
ghilburn@thenewsstar.com
(excerpt)
U.S. Sen. David Vitter called out state Sen. Charles Jones on Monday over Jones' opposition to the Kansas Lane connector project in Monroe.
Jones installed legislation that has kept the Louisiana Bond Commission from voting on whether to approve $1 million in state funds for the project, which would provide a connection between U.S. 165 and Interstate 20.
The city has already secured $10.5 million in federal funds for the connector that it can't spend without the state match.
"It's been frustrating to see Sen. Charles Jones (D-Monroe) laying across the tracks trying to delay it or kill it," Vitter said. "I don't know his motives, but it's a good project with consensus support. I urge everybody here to do what it takes to get this project."
Vitter said that there are members of Congress from other states who will confiscate the Kansas Lane funding if it's not used.
"There are members from other states who would be glad to grab that money from their projects," he said.
Jones could not be reached for comment.
