Opinion: Hulshof Opposed Economic Support for Worth County

Opinions are the views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Sheridan Express.
Hulshof Opposed Economic Support for
Worth County
by the Missouri Democratic Party
Asked what the top three priorities of a potential Hulshof administration would be in an interview following the first Gubernatorial debate, Congressman Kenny Hulshof responded, "jobs, jobs and jobs." But when he had the chance, Congressman Hulshof opposed economic packages that would have addressed the wholesale export of American jobs and instead gave priority with taxpayer money for wasteful pork projects like the Bridge to Nowhere, the Woodstock Museum and roughly 11,000 other earmarks.
In Congress, Hulshof voted against legislation supported by Congressional members Sam Graves and Jo Ann Emerson that would have provided support for expanding broadband Internet access, economic development strategies, infrastructure, and job skills training for 55 Missouri counties, including Worth County.
Watch the video contrasting Congressman Hulshof’s words and his deeds at www.CongressmanKenny.com.
"Congressman Hulshof says all of his top three priorities would be jobs. But in Washington, when he had the chance to do something to slow American jobs going to other countries, to help areas that had lost jobs to other countries or to help build the economy in the neediest areas of Missouri, he instead gave priority to wasteful pork projects like a Bridge to Nowhere and a Woodstock Museum," Zac Wright, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman, said. "Congressman Hulshof is right about one thing. It is about priorities. But looking at his record, you have to wonder if his priorities are the same as Missourians’."
In Congress, Hulshof opposed important jobs measures, to:
· slow the outsourcing to other countries of American manufacturing jobs,
· redevelop communities whose manufacturing sectors have suffered from the influences of international trade, and;
· develop economic initiatives for distressed Missouri counties, drawing criticism from fellow Missouri Republican Sam Graves.
Instead, Hulshof gave a higher priority to spending Missourians’ taxpayer money on 11,000 pork project earmarks, including:
· The $220 Million "Bridge to Nowhere" [Anchorage Daily News, 07/30/05; St. Petersburg Times, 04/01/07]
· The Woodstock Museum [House of Representatives Vote 561, 2007]
· The Maine Lobster Institute [House of Representatives Vote 735, 2007]
· Funding For "International Asparagus Competitiveness." [House of Representatives Vote 360, 2000]
· $500,000 To Renovate A Swimming Pool In Southern California. [House of Representatives Vote 277, 2006]
· $150,000 In Funding To Upgrade "An Italian Grocery Market" In New York City. [House of Representatives Vote 334, 2006]
· An Earmark To Fund The Recruitment Of Dairy Farmers To Northeast Iowa [House of Representatives Vote 190, 2006]
· A $129,000 Project That "Would Have Doubled Retail Space Available For A Gift Shop Selling Products…Such As Christmas Tree Ornaments, Handmade Soaps And Pottery." [House of Representatives Vote 593, 2007]
· Funds To Study The Andean Knotted-String Records
· Funds To Study The Prehistoric Bison Hunting In The Great Plains
· Funds To Study The "Sexual Politics Of Waste In Dakar, Senegal,"
· Funds To Study The Social Relationships And Sexual Habits Of Phayre’s Leaf Monkeys
· Funds To Study The Why Some People Are Superstitious [House of Representatives Vote 289, 2007]
BACKGROUND: THE HULSHOF RECORD
Kenny Hulshof, in 2004, voted against increasing funding for a program that attempts "to slow the flow of American jobs going oversees by investing…in programs, including worker training, for small- and medium-sized manufacturers."
On July 9, 2004, "the House passed a bill…that would attempt to slow the flow of American jobs going oversees by investing $110 million in programs, including worker training, for small- and medium-sized manufacturers.
The bill (HR 3598), passed by voice vote, would reauthorize the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, a nationwide network of more than 400 not-for-profit centers that provide manufacturers assistance such as worker training, advice on business practices and instruction on the use of information technology."
Congressman Hulshof voted against an amendment to more than double the authorization for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which has helped Missouri businesses, including Precision Aero Services, Inc. in Nevada, Mo.
Precision Aero Services, Inc. in Nevada, Mo., created 185 jobs with the help of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. [House of Representatives Vote 355, 2004, and Manufacturing Extension Partnership, http://blue.nist.gov/ss/F643247A9866C3D185256F8E0066AD80]
Kenny Hulshof, in 2007, voted against a bill to help 55 economically distressed counties in Missouri "with high poverty and unemployment rates." Congressman "Sam Graves, R-Mo., said it would help give rural parts of the country access to broadband Internet. This technology ‘should be available to everyone, no matter where they live, at a reasonable rate,’ he said." It also would help these counties with economic development strategies, infrastructure, and job skills training.
"The legislation would have authorized $1.25 billion for five regional economic development agencies. Modeled after the Appalachian Regional Commission and aimed at areas with high poverty and unemployment rates, the commissions would be charged with establishing economic development plans for their respective regions."
One of the five regional commissions would be the Delta Regional Commission, which would include "the counties Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscott, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Washington, Wayne, and Wright in the State of Missouri."
Another of the five regional commissions would be the Northern Great Plains Regional Commission, which would include "the counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clay, Clinton, Cooper, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Platte, Putnam, Schuyler, Sullivan, and Worth in the State of Missouri." [Text of H.R. 3246, Printed in the Congressional Record on 09/17/07]
Kenny Hulshof, on October 4, 2007, voted against H.R. 3246. He was one of 154 House members who voted with President George W. Bush against this bill to "set up five regional commissions across the country, all with paid staff to assess the economic needs and coordinate economic development strategies. It also would approve grants to states, local governments, nonprofit agencies and tribes for infrastructure, job skills training, tourism promotion and local assistance in areas such as health care." [House of Representatives Vote 946, 2007, and The News & Observer, 10/08/07]
"At least 40 percent of the funds would be used to develop transportation, telecommunications and basic public infrastructure.
The remaining money would be used for economic development activities that include job training, public services, conservation, tourism and renewable and alternative energy projects." [San Antonio Express-News, 10/05/07]
Congressman "Sam Graves, R-Mo., said it would help give rural parts of the country access to broadband Internet. This technology ‘should be available to everyone, no matter where they live, at a reasonable rate,’ he said." [Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 10/06/07]
Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson voted with Graves to pass this bill. [House of Representatives Vote 946, 2007]