Where's that Line-Item Veto, George?

President Bush just signed a $286 billion dollar transportation highway bill into law today. This bill has survived two years of negotiation between the White House and Congress has finally reached the President’s desk. While the road systems in the United States are vital to safety and the economy as Bush pointed out in his speech when signing the bill, there is a growing debate at whether some of the special projects listed are excessive especially when money is needed elsewhere in the nation's budget.

The bill contains more than 6,371 special projects valued at more than $24 billion. On MSN there was a remark by Keith Ashdown the vice president of policy for Taxpayers for Common Sense who called the measure a "bloated, expensive bill" that the Bush should veto. He also added that "this bill will be known as the most earmarked transportation bill in the history of our nation." John McCain who opposed the bill referred to the special projects as “egregious”.

Things are becoming more heated I noticed in the media as details of this bill are coming out. I got curious, so I checked it out for myself and below are some of the highlights that I found. After reading through some of these I wonder what deals were made in Washington that prevented George Bush from doing away with some of these items. Check it out for yourself.

*The third-least populated state, Alaska, gets $941 million, including a $250 million bridge in Anchorage to be named Don Young's Way. Don Young is a Republican on the House Transportation Committee who helped achieve Alaska getting the fourth greatest share of money in the bill. As Mr. Ashdown was quoted I find I agree that the distribution of the money for these projects "is based far more on political clout than on transportation need.”

*$23 billion landscaping along the Ronald Reagan Freeway in California

*$200,000 for a deer avoidance system in Weedsport, N.Y.

*$330 million for a highway in Bakersfield., Calif.

*$100,000 for a traffic light in Canoga Park, Calif.

*$1.6 million for a waterfront walkway honoring Frank Sinatra in his hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey

*$2 million to replace an elevated highway in Manhattan, New York with a tunnel so Donald Trump can put up a new building

*A provision granting tax credits for liquor wholesalers

* Congress also tossed in $3 million to pay for a documentary film about Alaska. The subject is how Alaska is spending money on its highways

*$250 million for a bridge to connect the town of Ketchican (pop.14,000) to Gravina Island (pop. 50)