Conyers is for the people, not the pigs. In the just-signed Transportation

[Nothing Without Hope]

Bill, for example, it's enlightening to compare the carefully chosen, highly practical and necessary funding for transportation that Conyers has obtained for his Michigan district with the bloated pork-laden bequests to some GOP favorites.

Here's Conyers' justly proud email about his district's "take" from the Transportation Bill:

Dear Friends,

Last Friday, July 29th, 2005, after nearly three years of hand-wringing, Congress finally passed a six-year reauthorization of the federal surface transportation programs, called the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for User or SAFETEA-LU. The passage of this $286.45 billion dollar program represents a major step forward in improving infrastructure for United States, Michigan, Detroit, and the Downriver Communities.

I was able include $17.6 million in SAFETEA-LU for specific local projects for the communities of the 14th Congressional District. The following projects will help relieve congestion, improve deteriorating bridges, repair existing roads, and spur economic development.

Project / Funding

• Replace buses in the city of Detroit / $6.3 million
  
• Build a bus maintenance facility in the city of Detroit / $3.8 million
  
• Study and determine replacement options for the Trenton Channel Bridge / $3.2 million
  
• Construct a railroad grade separation on Fort Street north of Van Horn Road, Trenton, County of Wayne / $1.6 million
  
• Ford museum / $1.2 million
  
• Wyoming Ave. reconstruction from Eagle Pass to Michigan Avenue under a railroad bridge / $800,000
  
• Repair M-10 corridor from I-696 to downtown Detroit / $800,000

While this bill was not perfect, it represented a major step forward in ensuring that Michigan got a fairer rate of return on the amount of dollars we provide to our nations infrastructure needs. Under the new legislation, we are expected to receive an average increase of $239 million more per year than under current law. By 2008, Michigan is guaranteed to receive a 92% return on its federal gas tax payments, up from 90.5% under the last transportations bill TEA-21.

More importantly though, SAFETEA-LU will help create jobs and spur on the economy of southeastern Michigan. Statistics show that for every 1 billion in highway spending creates an estimated 47,500.

As the 109th Congress continues its work, I hope you will let me know your views on issues that are important to you, by writing me at [e-mail] or by signing up for e-mail updates at www.house.gov/conyers.

If I can ever be of assistance in the future, please let me know.

Sincerely,
John Conyers, Jr.

Compare with the pork picnic among the GOP, and you'll see the obvious differences. Conyers is for the people, not the pigs.

http://www.allhatnocattle.net.nyud.net:8090/bush_223M_Bridge_to_Nowhere.jpg

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bush11aug11,0,1957192.story?track=tothtml
August 11, 2005
latimes.com : National News
LOS ANGELES TIMES - THE NATION

Bush Signs Transportation Bill, Says It Will Deliver Jobs

The $286.5-billion measure will fund more than 350 projects in California. Critics say it contains an 'egregious' amount of pork.

By Edwin Chen, Times Staff Writer

CHICAGO — President Bush signed the $286.5-billion transportation bill Wednesday, saying it would ease traffic congestion throughout the country, create hundreds of thousands of jobs and impose stricter vehicular safety standards that would save lives.

But critics said the legislation was stuffed with unnecessary and expensive projects that benefited only members of Congress seeking hometown support.

(snip)

This was also posted in the John Conyers Group, which, by the way, needs your support to continue. This DU Group is here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=340

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Conyers is the real deal

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. Yes, he's the living, breathing, and fighting REAL representative that

is all too rare these days. How that man manages to sleep and do all he does for his own district plus all the rest of the country is beyond me, but thank god for him.

One of my favorite fantasies: John Conyers as President, Barbara Boxer as Vice President. (Even though she could be considered higher ranking, as she is a Senator, I feel that his experience is deeper and broader.)

[quiet.american]

2. I love this man. n/t

[fooj]

4. Conyers...another American Patriot!

Peace.

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. Kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. kick n/t

[paineinthearse]

7. Pork you!

This reminds me pf something I heard about the appropriations process, how memebers can and do add pork to their districts without hearing and review. Will research.