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Hochul calls on congress to pass jobs bill to help with area bridge repair

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

After a report stating nearly 1,100 bridges in New York State were deemed "fracture-critical," a high percentage of which exist in New York’s 26th Congressional District, Congresswoman Kathy Hochul today called on Congress to immediately pass the American Jobs Act.

"Let's finally pass a comprehensive jobs bill that will not only get Americans back to work, but fix the bridges millions of commuters rely on each year," Congresswoman Hochul said. "These 'fracture-critical' bridges are a threat to the safety of New York residents, especially the residents of New York's 26th District, which had scores of bridges on the list. This report only underscores the need for quick passage of the Job Act.”

New York State currently has double the number of fracture-critical bridges on the list than reported nationwide, while Orleans County, in the center of the 26th District, was reported to have nearly seven times the national average. Over 20 percent of Orleans County's 138 bridges were found to be fracture-critical. Bridges from all other six counties in the 26th District – Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, and Wyoming counties – were also on the list.

Fracture-critical bridges lack redundant supporting elements, which means if one key support function of the bridge fails, the safety and use of the entire bridge could fail, potentially causing a collapse.

Hochul added, "While structurally sound under normal circumstances, there is no reason why these bridges cannot get the necessary repairs to ensure the safety of the driving public. As the former county clerk responsible for putting vehicles on the road, I feel compelled to fight for the money we need from Washington to bring our bridges and roads up to par. Once again, I call for the House leadership to bring forward the American Jobs Act and allow us to vote on infrastructure funding for our districts, while creating much needed job opportunities for our workers."

All seven of the counties Representative Hochul represents have vulnerable bridges that could benefit from passage of the American Jobs Act.

Dann Neale

Another Democrat attempting to scare the population into accepting her party line expansion of government spending. This is what you get when you don't think when you vote. The spending on bridges may in some circumstances may be necessary...so cut the fat off another area within the federal government...like representatives pensions or support staff or ...how about the entire Department of Education...that might fix a few bridges...how rediculous this "representative" sounds as she reverbs Barack Obama.

Oct 24, 2011, 6:46pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

Dann the question that should be asked is what have they been doing with the money from the gas tax they collect and all the other tax dollars that have been poured into the Dept of transportation...Why have they let all the roads and bridges get in such bad shape..

Oct 24, 2011, 9:03pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Obama wants to fix bridges and create jobs. Republicans say no to everything except tax breaks for rich people. Education, bad. The environment, bad. Bridges and roads, bad. Social Security, bad. Mexicans, bad. Police and fireman, bad. Unions, bad. Health care, bad. Minumum wage, bad. Protesters, bad. The UN, bad. Killing tyrnts, bad. Tax breaks for the middle class, bad. The list seems endless. That's the message and its going to work. When are Republicans going to be for something or willing to do something besides tear down the presient? Negetive and bleek doesn't get you votes.

Oct 24, 2011, 10:46pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Democrats know one thing that this new breed of Republicans does not. The American electorate is made up of small groups of people that all want something for nothing. All you need to do is cross off each group to win. Wallstreet gives Obama more money than Repiblicans, why do you think???

Oct 24, 2011, 10:37pm Permalink
David Lazik

response to mr. dann neale:

brainwashed by fox news talking points? more of the same tired bitter selfish i hate government republican/tea party rhetoric here. while our infrastructure continues to crumble, the republican majority in the house definitely is NOT interested in "cutting" the fat in their outrageous pensions & cadillac health care. they remain silent on these issues as you well know. put it to a vote & let's at least see where these house republicans stand. they're mostlyl double talking hypocrites starting with millionaire AIPAC stooge eric cantor. he would NEVER allow that to come to a vote, not even a symbolic one. serious about cutting fat? how about the 3 billion every year in in military "aid" american taxpayers fork over to israel? - not to mention all other types of aid we give to israel. 40% of our entire foreign aid budget for the entire world goes to just that 1 country. fair & balanced? let's see how interested the republican majority is in putting that one on the table.

Oct 25, 2011, 9:12am Permalink
John Roach

Lazik,
My favorite NYC liberal. As usual, you take the dem. line hook and sinker. When did the Democratic run Senate propose cutting its benefits or cutting aid to Israel?

Oct 25, 2011, 10:08am Permalink
terry paine

Another left/right argument of how to spend other peoples money. The one common thing, is both sides have an increasing need to be lead by a larger and more authoritarian group of politicians. Sad.

Oct 25, 2011, 12:45pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

This thread is a wonderful example of what our problem is. There's a bill about infrastructure and inevitably somebody makes it about aid to Israel, or prayer in school, or anchor babies, or the wars, or whatever their favorite whipping boy is.

Typical conversation in Congress:

Congressman A: "A million people were displaced by a natural disaster. They won't be able to return to their homes or to work until the area gets cleaned up. I'd like to introduce a bill that will help get that done."

Congressman B: "I'm not willing to discuss disaster relief until we tackle the very real problem of squirrel husbandry in Nebraska. I will hold the disaster relief bill up in committee until we have definitive answers about the genetic traits of albino squirrels."

Congressman C: "While I understand that squirrel DNA is of great import, my religion precludes me from believing in any kind of science. I also believe that disaster relief is of the utmost importance, but obviously that hurricane was sent from God to punish gay people. For that reason, I must insist that we erect a monument bearing the Ten Commandments at the base of the Washington Monument. I will also hold the relief bill up in committee until my monument is built."

Congressman D: "I like pie. Can we get an amendment in there about how great pie is?"

Congresswoman E: My colleague spoke to this chamber about his support for pie, but I'd like to remind this body that cake suffers a great disadvantage in the desert structure due to it's lack of ingredient variety. I insist that any amendment written in support of pie be offset with a PR campaign aimed at spreading the word about cake and cake related foods."

Congressman A: "I'll yield back the rest of my time. If anyone needs me, I'll be at the bar down the street drinking myself to death."

Oct 25, 2011, 12:52pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

Why not prescribe Ritalin? Whether it works or not- Johnson & Johnson will profit.

Male voice (medicine cabinet): What's wrong?
Man: I need something stronger.
Male voice (medicine cabinet): Take four red capsules. In 10 minutes, take two more. Help is on the way.
---"THX 1138" 1971, George Lucas, American Zoetrope

Oct 25, 2011, 1:12pm Permalink

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