Better late than never, Mr. Ryan

By David Skolnick

Ryan posts 454 pages of earmark requests 3 days late

While other members of the Mahoning and Shenango valleys’ congressional delegation made an April 4 deadline to reveal detailed information about their federal earmark requests on their Web sites, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, did not post his until Tuesday night.

Coincidentally, Ryan is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which announced the change in January “to further increase transparency,” according to an announcement on the committee’s Web site.

The other four members who represent the Mahoning and Shenango valleys submitted their requests on time. The policy was adopted by the committee on Jan. 6. Members were reminded of that policy word-for-word by the committee’s chairman in emails sent to their staffs March 11.

Ryan’s earmark request document is 454 pages. It includes a $7.69 million request for Youngstown State University’s defense industrial metrology, 3D imaging and analytical data fusion and an additional $1.5 million to help develop alternative fuels.

Ryan wrote on his Web site that his top priorities were for projects for economic development, improved health care, better education and renewable energy.

Requests from U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, included $2 million for Newbold Technologies of East Liverpool for an information management system that would be used by the Navy, and $2 million for the Salem utilities department for a 20-inch water mainline.

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire of McCandless, Pa., D-4th, is seeking $1 million for Velocity Magnetics Inc. in New Castle to research and develop technology to convert wind power into electrical energy.

Friday was the last day to submit earmark requests to the appropriations committee for fiscal year 2010, which begins Oct. 1 of this year. The deadline to post the requests on U.S. House members’ Web sites was Saturday.

Brad Bauman, Ryan’s spokesman, said Ryan’s delay in posting his list was caused by a technical issue with his Web site. But Bauman also insisted “there was no hard and fast deadline.”

Posting the information by Saturday was only a “recommendation” and not a “rule” by the committee, he said.

Not only did the appropriations committee inform House members twice of the new rule, but the Web site of Speaker Nancy Pelosi provides the same information.

“That information is categorically false and wrong,” Bauman contended. “What’s on [the appropriations committee’s and Pelosi’s Web sites] doesn’t square with reality. It’s a language problem. We’re not in violation.”

Bauman urged The Vindicator to contact Kirstin Brost for clarification. Brost is the appropriations committee’s spokeswoman who is the contact person on the Jan. 6 press release who also sent the March 11 e-mail to staffers of Democratic members of the House. Attempts to reach her Tuesday to comment were unsuccessful.

Gabriela Schneider, a spokeswoman for Sunlight Foundation, an organization that checked every House members’ Web site for compliance, said Friday’s deadline was a requirement.

PROPOSED EARMARKS

Federal budget

The members of Congress who represent the Mahoning and Shenango valleys are proposing federal earmarks for projects in their districts. Below are the requests from the members for the five-county area. U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan didn’t provide his proposed earmarks until late Tuesday. His requests will be provided at a later time.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th

His district includes all of Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning County.

• $150,000 for the Boardman Township Food Composting Program that takes food waste and transforms it into compost for sale to area gardeners and farmers.

• $440,00 for the East Lincoln Way sewer separation project in Lisbon to install a water line, sanitary sewer system and replace the pavement.

• $94,000 for the Columbiana County Agricultural Society in Lisbon to replace a water line system on the county fairgrounds and refurbish existing restrooms to make them handicapped accessible.

• $375,000 to replace a flexible cover with a permanent solid roof at the Wheathill Reservoir in East Palestine.

• $155,000 for an upgrade to the Jackson Township police station.

• $6,000 for programs for at-risk youth at the Family and Community Resource Center of Columbiana County in Salem.

• $850,000 to create the Salem Area Industrial Park.

• $5,000 for Lamb’s House Inc. in Leetonia for rehabilitation and career training programs for those who repeatedly break the law.

• $2 million for Newbold Technologies of East Liverpool for an information management system that would be used by the Navy.

$1 million for an upgrade to the New Middletown wastewater treatment plant.

• $950,000 for improvements to Salem’s wastewater treatment plant.

• $1.5 million to merge the Buckeye Water District with Salineville’s water system.

• $900,000 for sanitary sewer system improvements in Salem.

• $1 million for water and sanitary sewer improvements in Lake Milton.

• $600,000 for a storm water management project in Boardman.

• $725,000 for a waterline replacement and loop extension project in Wellsville.

• $400,000 for the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s Thinking Bigger, Aiming Higher. It would create a program for schools in Mahoning and Columbiana County to provide early career instruction to middle and high school students.

• $2 million for the Salem utilities department for a 20-inch water mainline.

• $75,000 to renovate the American Legion Mahoning Valley Post 15 building in Poland.

• $375,000 to renovate the Boardman Community Senior Center.

• $1.5 million for a sanitary sewer project in southern Columbiana County.

• $427,500 to upgrade the Leetonia water treatment plant.

• $624,000 for a sewer separation project in Lisbon.

• $125,000 for a recreational trail in Boardman Park.

• $450,000 for an expansion to the Sebring Mansion that would provide electronics training for electrical students.

• $129,000 for programs at the Family Recovery Center in Lisbon.

• $580,000 for a training program for workers in the information technology and medical fields at NewLife Technical Institute in East Liverpool.

• $150,000 for bus replacements at the Columbiana County Educational Service Center in Lisbon.

• $78,000 to pave one mile in Commerce Park in North Jackson.

• $1 million for a township-wide resurfacing program in Boardman.

U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette of Bainbridge, R-14th

His district includes seven northern townships in Trumbull County.

• $500,000 for infrastructure improvements to the Kinsman sanitary sewer system.

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire of McCandless, Pa., D-4th

His district includes all of Lawrence County and a portion of Mercer County in Pennsylvania.

• $400,000 for improvements to the Scottish Rite Cathedral in New Castle.

• $200,000 for the Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County in New Castle for family violence and abuse prevention programs.

• $500,000 for a renovation to the Jameson Hospital’s emergency room in New Castle.

• $120,000 for law enforcement technology for the Lawrence County Sheriff’s office in New Castle.

• $1 million for the development of the Millennium Technology Park in New Castle.

• $1 million for Velocity Magnetics Inc. in New Castle to research and develop technology to convert wind power into electrical energy.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper of Erie, Pa., D-3rd

Her district includes a portion of Mercer County.

• $205,000 for medical equipment and technology upgrades for the Sharon Regional Health Center in Sharon.

Sources: Web sites of U.S. Reps. Charlie Wilson, Steven C. LaTourette, Jason Altmire and Kathy Dahlkemper