by Charlie Wolfson, PublicSouce
A change in Congress’ budgeting process could pour tens of millions of dollars into infrastructure and housing projects in the Pittsburgh area. For the first time since 2010, individual members of Congress are allowed to attach local projects to the federal budget, a process known as earmarking.
U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle and Sen. Bob Casey, both Democrats, requested funds for 22 projects that target the Pittsburgh region. Doyle’s 10 requests each made it into the House’s proposed budget, while the Senate has yet to release a final proposal. The budget process will continue through the summer and could conclude in the early fall.
Doyle’s requests, which are more likely than not to become law, feature $2 million for ACTION-Housing’s “Flats on Forward” project, $2 million for the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s “Avenues of Hope” initiative and $2 million to the City of Pittsburgh for its North Avenue streetscape project.
Casey’s requests include $2 million for a redesign of the Station Square transit station, another $3.6 million for Avenues of Hope and $140 million for “needed work on the Ohio River navigation system.” Unlike the House, the Senate is still debating how to use earmarks.
Republican Sen. Pat Toomey is shunning the practice of earmarking, calling it wasteful and politically driven spending. Congress banned earmarks in 2010 in a rare agreement between fiscal conservatives and President Barack Obama. They returned in 2021 as Democrats regained federal power.
Though some Republicans are steering clear, Western Pennsylvania Republican Reps. Mike Kelly and Guy Reschenthaler did take part, requesting more than $18 million in spending combined. Much of the funding would benefit communities outside the Pittsburgh area, though Reschenthaler requested $1.2 million for a service dog training center in Robinson Township and Kelly requested $2 million for the Butler Municipal Airport.
Doyle said in an emailed statement to PublicSource Tuesday that the requests “will make Pittsburgh more equitable, more prosperous, and more responsive to Pittsburghers’ needs.”
Congressman Mike Doyle Addresses the audience on his agenda on Climate Change (Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource)
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Casey and Doyle earmarks could pour millions into Pittsburgh projects
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