Flake Measure Would Favor Bridge Repairs Over Museums, Beautification

Ever the crusader for fiscal discipline, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) announced plans Monday to introduce legislation that would prevent states with deficient bridges from receiving earmarks for non-transportation projects, such as museums, parking lots and road beautification projects.

The Arizona conservative announced his intent less than a week after a bridge collapsed in Minnesota, killing at least five with another eight still missing. Engineers found structural deficiencies as early as 2005 in the I-35 span that fell into the Mississippi last Wednesday in Minneapolis.

“It’s difficult to justify spending money on parking lots and road beautification projects when there are clearly more vital transportation needs,” Flake said.

Earmarks included in the 2005 transportation bill were subtracted from the money allocated to states, meaning each lawmaker-requested project left the state less discretion to direct those funds to other priority projects.