From the Gainesville Times,
8/11/07
Proposed
I-3 isn't forgotten: Funding for study remains in place
"The $1.32 million came from earmark legislation, also known as 'pork,'" Demuth
said. "It's a line item in the larger federal transportation bill. The
sponsor of the legislation has the ability to rescind it. But since Rep. Norwood
is no longer around, that power falls to his successor." Broun said Monday that he is still learning
his way around Congress and is not familiar with the
legalities of how to "de-fund" a bill. "I do know that I'm not in favor of building
I-3," Broun said. "We need to save taxpayers'
money and spend it on something that's viable, and this
project is not viable." Broun said he would like to see the money
transferred to another Georgia project. Read
more...
In a close vote Dr. Paul Broun, who
strongly opposes I-3, has been elected and sworn-in as
the U.S. Representative from District 10 in Georgia. He replaces
the late Charlie Norwood. Dr. Broun has promised to sponsor
legislation to rescind the study of the I-3 corridor. (Visit
our 2007 news archive to learn
more about Broun's position.)
We in Georgia now need to convince the Georgia senators that
the study money should be rescinded. ALL of us need to renew
pressure on all of our legislators to vote for a rescission
and ask them to work with the Georgia delegation in rescinding
the study.
ACTIONS
1. Georgia District 10 supporters
of Stop I-3 please e-mail Dr. Broun at paul@paulbroun.com and congratulate him on his election and on his promise
to sponsor legislation to rescind I-3.
2. If you are from Georgia, e-mail or fax
both Senator Chambliss and Senator Isakson. Ask them to "Please
sponsor legislation in the Senate to rescind the study money
for I-3, The Third Infantry Division Highway, contained in
SAFETEA-LU, the transportation act of 2005, Sections 1702
(2737, 3358, 3956) and 1927. Not only is the new District
10 Representative, Dr. Paul Broun, strongly opposed to the
interstate, but this road is unwanted, unneeded, fiscally
irresponsible, and environmentally disastrous."
3. If you are NOT from Georgia, write your senators and congressmen
informing them of Representative Brounís opposition
to the study and ask for their help in rescinding the study.
As always, refer them to www.stopi3.org for further information.
To fax, call, or email your Senators and Representatives
go to www.congress.org.
PLEASE NOTE: Dr.
Broun's correct office phone numbers are 202-225-4101
(Washington) and 706-886-1008 (Toccoa). The Augusta phone
number listed for Dr. Broun on www.congress.org isnot
in service at this time.
As we flood the e-mail boxes of our senators and representative,
please remember that individual letters, even if similar,
count as separate letters; copies of a pre-written letter
count as one letter; therefore, we are asking for individual
letters. You may cut and paste from the above with minor
changes and add your own personal experience.
I have called each Georgia Senator to ask for an appointment
when they are in Georgia for the summer break in August.
If any of you know either senator personally, please contact
me at hlbartlett@windstream.net.
An introduction from a personal acquaintance always helps
when trying to speak to a legislator personally.
Thank you for your help. We have a real opportunity to stop
this highway, and I know I can count on you.
Lucy E. Bartlett
Chair, Stop I-3 Coalition Board of Directors
Posted April
10, 2007
ACTION ALERT!
Friends of Stop I-3 Coalition:
Those of us opposed to Interstate 3 have a
rare opportunity to make our voices heard--and to make those
voices really count. The U.S. Congress has asked the U.S.
Department of Transportation to return $3.47 billion in previously
approved appropriations. The federal DOT, in turn, is asking
the states to recommend their projects for defunding. It
is time to request that the I-3 study funds be at the top
of this list. Removing the study funds would
significantly delay the proposal, if not kill it completely.
But we need your help.
We need to generate as many as possible emails
and faxes suggesting this cancellation, Governor Perdue’s
office has directed our comments be forwarded to the Georgia
Department of Transportation (GDOT). Harold Linnenkohl is
the Commissioner and the GDOT addresses are set forth below.
Sending a note to the Governor will also help.
Let us repeat that we are on a very short time
line. The recommendations from GDOT are due back to Washington
by April 18, 2007. We need to get our comments into GDOT
by Friday, April 13th, 2007. Two sample notes are included
below. The most effective correspondence is one that you
personally write; however, if you are short on time you may
copy and paste one of these to your email or fax.
To contact GDOT:
By email:
harold.linnenkohl@dot.state.ga.us
By fax:
1-404-463-6336
By phone:
1-404-656- 5206
To contact the Governor’s Office:
Georgia.Governor@gov.state.ga.us
SAMPLE LETTERS TO
COMMISSIONER LINNENKOHL
Commissioner Linnenkohl:
As you consider how to meet Georgia’s
share of the $3.47 billion that the U.S. Congress has directed
the Department of Transportation to rescind, we have a suggestion
of a cut that will have no adverse impact: cancel the Interstate
3 (also called the Third Infantry Division highway) study.
If the study is cancelled, we will also save Georgia’s
20% match of $330,000. Cutting the totally unnecessary study
of a highway that will have a disastrous impact on the environment
and economy of Northeast Georgia, Western North Carolina,
and Eastern Tennessee will save money for high priority projects.
The people of the area have already studied the impacts of
this highway and the results are clear to see on www.stopi-3.org.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Commissioner Linnenkohl:
The US Congress has directed the Department
of Transportation to rescind $3.47 billion of currently appropriated
DOT funding. By letter to the states dated March 19, 2007,
the DOT has requested each to identify their share of this
cut and to return this list to the DOT within 30 days. Given
the fact that the State of Georgia already has a $7 billion
shortfall in our 5-year plan, these reductions must be done
with care. One cut that can be done with no adverse impact
is the cancellation of the Interstate 3 study. This will
save $1.3 million other cuts to higher priority programs.
In addition the state’s $330,000 share can be recalled
and also applied to saving otherwise imperiled programs.
With the soon to be completed 4 lane roadway
between Augusta and Savannah, the military justification
for the I-3 project has been satisfied. The economic justification
never existed, while the environmental and economic damage
potential to the northeast Georgia Mountains is huge. A memorial
to the 3rd Infantry Division, which could cost as much as
$7 billion, is an embarrassment to our brave soldiers.
You are no doubt aware that your northeast
Georgia counties are overwhelmingly opposed to this project.
The Congress has provided a rare opportunity to correct a
blatant pork barrel excess. We strongly encourage you to
take advantage of this windfall and in the interest of sound
fiscal policy, cancel this project.
YOUR VOICE CAN COUNT.
PLEASE USE IT!
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