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HOME > ABOUT > PRESS > THOMPSON'S EARMARKS REACH $395 MILLION
Article published - April 4, 2009
Credit: PRESS DEMOCRAT
Thompson's earmarks reach $395 million
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, has submitted requests for almost $395 million in federal money to pay for a broad swath of North Coast projects.
Thompson’s office released the list of 84 spending proposals, known as earmarks, on Saturday, a day after Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, detailed her wish list totaling nearly $285 million.
“As economic conditions become more difficult, it is more important than ever that cities and counties get help for public projects that rebuild our roads and bridges, invest in research to protect our agricultural economy, provide flood protection, protect our environment and rebuild our hospitals and health clinics,” Thompson said in a statement.
He noted that he had received more than $1.2 billion in requests from the seven counties in his North Coast district, which stretches from Napa County across the eastern end of Sonoma County and up to the Oregon border.
One of the largest requests is for $30 million to pay for efforts to fight the vineyard-killing Pierce’s disease, which can be spread by the glassy winged sharpshooter. Agricultural officals are trying to halt the spread of the insect and keep it out of Wine Country. An additional $3 million would be allocated to research on ways to counteract the disease itself.
The single largest proposal is for $92 million to fund completion of a massive flood control project on the Napa River.
A number of Sonoma County projects are included in the list.
One major allocation would be $5 million to augment preliminary engineering and environmental work on the SMART commuter rail line from Cloverdale to Larkspur.
Other projects include improvements to Healdsburg wasterwater treatment system, $3 million; acquisition of a building to house the Sonoma County Family Justice Center, $1 million; construction of electric vehicle charging stations, $2 million; and expansion of Alliance Medical Center in Healdsburg, $800,000.; expansion of Sonoma County community health centers, $1.6 million; design and studies for replacement of the Healdsburg Avenue bridge over the Russian River, $3 million; renovation of the Sonoma Valley regional library, $1.7 million, and design and construction of a new water well in Cloverdale, $514,800.
The funding requests are for the 2010 fiscal year, which begins in October, and must go through extensive committee review before being authorized.
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