Seeking Highway Funding in DC

April 6th, 2009
Seeking Highway Funding in DC

I got my picture taken with Michele Bachmann and Amy Klobuchar. Our group of
5, who are seeking funding for Highway 55 were part of the 74 Minnesotans
converged on Washington DC last week as part of the Minnesotan
Transportation Alliance annual Fly In.

It was a surreal experience. At breakfast Wednesday we saw short
presentations from Congressman Erik Paulsen, our Freshman from western
Hennepin County. Followed by Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison, Tim Walz,
Michele Bachmann and Bill Richard, Many opinions I had formed about our
congressional delegation from the media were thrown out that morning during
those brief talks, as nothing replaces seeing someone face to face.

Which was our goal at being in DC. We had meeting with the Chief of Staff
for Congressman Jim Oberstar (who talked biking with me), followed by
Michele Bachman. I was amazed how tiny this powerful woman is-and how
authentic-very refreshing. Erik Paulsen's staff set up 3 different meeting
times but he couldn't make any of them. The schedulers have a tough job
because they never know when a vote will be called. That was disappointing
because I've heard what a nice guy Erik Paulsen is and was looking forward
to meeting him. But we met with his legislative assistant-one of 14 groups
she met with that day. You have to find a way to stand out and get your
project noticed.

The delegation from Carver County did get face time with their Congressman,
John Kline, who clearly repeated his "no earmarks" pledge and didn't leave
them much hope for Highways 212 and 5. If the Congressperson from your
district won't request funding for your Highway you don't stand a chance at
getting money. Either Bachmann or Paulsen can request money for us since our
project runs through both districts.

We spent a lot of time hanging out in the hallway with the intimidating high
ceilings-though it was neat to read the names on the doors. Speaking of
doors, we made a wrong turn and discovered the "door room in the basement"
because doors come and go so much as the Congress plays musical offices. And
I did see some guy walking his dog down the main hallway-there are a lot of
dogs in DC.

The offices of Michele Bachmann and Erik Paulsen were really small,
especially Michele Bachmann's who had her staffers working in the reception
area . When our whole group was there we had to meet in the hall because of
space. The Senate Building is newer and very plush. Amy Klobuchar has a
beautiful office.

We attended Amy's "Minnesota Thursday Breakfast" in her office. It was hot
and crowded and building staff were unsuccessful at kicking us out of the
hallway (I guess hallway meetings are OK in the Congressional office
building, but not in the Hart Senate Building). There were people there from
the Pork Council hanging next to the Eating Disorders group mixing in with
the families on vacation. We got our picture, 30 seconds to pitch our
highway, and an instruction to talk to her wonderful staffer.

Was it worth the trip? We don't believe we would stand a chance at funding
Highway 55 if we hadn't gone to DC. Even with all the hurry up and wait and
missed appointments-it was really cool to be in our Nation's Capital and
experience how our government really works.




I got my picture taken with Michele Bachmann and Amy Klobuchar. Our group of
5, who are seeking funding for Highway 55 were part of the 74 Minnesotans
converged on Washington DC last week as part of the Minnesotan
Transportation Alliance annual Fly In.

It was a surreal experience. At breakfast Wednesday we saw short
presentations from Congressman Erik Paulsen, our Freshman from western
Hennepin County. Followed by Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison, Tim Walz,
Michele Bachmann and Bill Richard, Many opinions I had formed about our
congressional delegation from the media were thrown out that morning during
those brief talks, as nothing replaces seeing someone face to face.

Which was our goal at being in DC. We had meeting with the Chief of Staff
for Congressman Jim Oberstar (who talked biking with me), followed by
Michele Bachman. I was amazed how tiny this powerful woman is-and how
authentic-very refreshing. Erik Paulsen's staff set up 3 different meeting
times but he couldn't make any of them. The schedulers have a tough job
because they never know when a vote will be called. That was disappointing
because I've heard what a nice guy Erik Paulsen is and was looking forward
to meeting him. But we met with his legislative assistant-one of 14 groups
she met with that day. You have to find a way to stand out and get your
project noticed.

The delegation from Carver County did get face time with their Congressman,
John Kline, who clearly repeated his "no earmarks" pledge and didn't leave
them much hope for Highways 212 and 5. If the Congressperson from your
district won't request funding for your Highway you don't stand a chance at
getting money. Either Bachmann or Paulsen can request money for us since our
project runs through both districts.

We spent a lot of time hanging out in the hallway with the intimidating high
ceilings-though it was neat to read the names on the doors. Speaking of
doors, we made a wrong turn and discovered the "door room in the basement"
because doors come and go so much as the Congress plays musical offices. And
I did see some guy walking his dog down the main hallway-there are a lot of
dogs in DC.

The offices of Michele Bachmann and Erik Paulsen were really small,
especially Michele Bachmann's who had her staffers working in the reception
area . When our whole group was there we had to meet in the hall because of
space. The Senate Building is newer and very plush. Amy Klobuchar has a
beautiful office.

We attended Amy's "Minnesota Thursday Breakfast" in her office. It was hot
and crowded and building staff were unsuccessful at kicking us out of the
hallway (I guess hallway meetings are OK in the Congressional office
building, but not in the Hart Senate Building). There were people there from
the Pork Council hanging next to the Eating Disorders group mixing in with
the families on vacation. We got our picture, 30 seconds to pitch our
highway, and an instruction to talk to her wonderful staffer.

Was it worth the trip? We don't believe we would stand a chance at funding
Highway 55 if we hadn't gone to DC. Even with all the hurry up and wait and
missed appointments-it was really cool to be in our Nation's Capital and
experience how our government really works.