Senate OKs Water Projects: Bill Contains Benefits for State

By Jim Myers, Tulsa World, Okla.

Sep. 25–The $23.2 billion bill passes easily. Sen. Tom Coburn is one of 12 senators to oppose it.

WASHINGTON — The Senate overwhelmingly passed a major water resources bill Monday that would authorize millions of dollars for Arkansas River development inTulsa and the ongoing buyout at the Tar Creek Superfund site.

Approved 81-12, the $23.2 billion bill now heads to President Bush, who has threatened to veto it.

Oklahoma Sens. Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn, both Republicans, split their votes on the bill — Inhofe supported it, and Coburn opposed it.

Coburn declined to comment.

Inhofe said he was disappointed with Bush’s veto threat but added that he was continuing to talk with White House insiders, including Chief of Staff Josh Bolten.

However, “I’m not making any headway,” he said.

The Bush administration has based its strong opposition on what it calls the bill’s excessive spending as well as a number of other provisions.

Inhofe used his position as the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to insert provisions authorizing $50 million for certain elements of the Arkansas

River development, which would complement a proposal that goes to Tulsa County voters next month.

Inhofe also inserted $30 million for the Tar Creek buyout.

“Today’s overwhelming bipartisan vote in favor of the WRDA bill in the Senate, and previously in the House, sends a clear message to the president: Don’t veto this critically important infrastructure bill,” Inhofe said.

The House previously approved the measure by a 381-40 vote.

Inhofe said the bill’s margins of victory were veto-proof.

He defended the measure’s cost, reminding others that it represents nearly seven years of work.

Citing his own conservative credentials, he vowed to be back when the spending bills are on the floor to oppose some of the same projects that are authorized by the bill over the next 15 years.

Speaking directly to the lawmakers he called “born-again conservatives” who voted for a huge transportation bill two years ago but now oppose the water resources bill, Inhofe claimed that they were voting against a bill that would bring discipline to the spending process.

“Infrastructure is infrastructure,” he said, adding that in some ways Oklahoma needs the water resources bill more than it did the transportation measure.

Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., who also opposed the bill, said he thought the changes it imposes on the Army Corps of Engineers do not go far enough.

Tougher reforms are needed to ensure that corps projects are safe, fiscally sound and environmentally responsible, he said.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., the chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and key sponsor of the bill, defended the corps provisions.

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., argued against the bill’s cost, pointing to the billions of dollars that were added to it in a lawmakers’ conference committee.

DeMint said the bill also represented a violation of an agreement to stop adding projects in the middle of the night.

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Jim Myers (202) 484-1424 jim.myers@tulsaworld.com

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Selected Oklahoma elements in the proposed Water Resources Development Act:

Arkansas River development: $50 million authorized for components of the Arkansas River Corridor Master Plan.

Tar Creek: $30 million authorized to complete relocation assistance for people at risk from land collapses and environmental contamination in Picher, Cardin, and Hockerville.

Lake Eufaula: Creation of an advisory committee that will give citizens a chance to comment on lake operations.

Corps of Engineers lakes: Creates a program to encourage recreational development on corps lakes in Oklahoma through public and private partnerships.

Arcadia Lake: Cleared Edmond of $10 million in disputed charges.

Oklahoma Water Resources Board: $6.5 million to update the state’s comprehensive water plan.

Statewide: Authorization for many local projects including: $16 million, Guymon; $10 million, Norman; $5 million, Lugert-Altus; $3.3 million, Durant; $3.325 million, Mustang, $2.5 million, Bartlesville; $2.5 million, Disney and Langley; $2 million, Midwest City; $1.9 million, Ardmore; $1.7 million, Ada; $1.5 million, Bethany; $1.5 million, Woodward; $1 million, Eastern State University, Wilburton, and several other smaller projects.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Tulsa World, Okla.

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