For all the talk about spending cuts and austerity in Washington, there are still plenty of signs the politicians just don't get it. Senator Schumer, Democrat of New York, has issued a press release bragging about obtaining for a Rochester, New York marina a $1,450,000 grant from the federal Department of the Interior's "Boating Infrastructure Grant" program.
According to the press release, "Senator Schumer wrote directly to high ranking program officials in support of this application."
Also according to the press release, "Grantees use Boating Infrastructure Grant funds to construct, renovate, and maintain facilities with features for transient boats (those staying 10 days or less) that are 26 feet or more in length and used for recreation."
Why should Americans who can't afford yachts 26 feet or more in length be taxed to subsidize those who can? It's a reverse Robin-Hood. You'd think politicians would be racing to issue press releases boasting about cutting this kind of spending from the federal budget, not press releases taking credit for it. We're going to borrow money from the Chinese or future generations or tax Americans to build marinas in Rochester for recreational boats 26 feet or more in length?
Yet another indication that calling something "infrastructure" doesn't necessarily make it wise federal spending. And that there's so much wasteful spending in Washington that even in an environment of proclaimed fiscal austerity there is plenty of money sloshing around for non-essential projects.
