Savannah Republicans and Democratics are blaming each other for a lack of funds to replace an aging bridge. Lack of money has foiled plans to replace the 37-year-old and structurally deficient Skidaway Island bridge for years.
Last fall, Republican Jack Kingston got a G.O.P.-led Congress to include funds to replace the bridge in a spending bill, but it never passed. When Democrats took over Congress this year, the earmark disappeared and Kingston's office told reporters that he had done the best he could to get it back.
That sent local Democratic official Tom Oxnard into offensive mode. Today he told County Commissioners the project shouldn't be political, but at the same time asked what Kingston had been doing for years before the Democratic takeover.
"This whole thing started with them," Oxnard said. "Kingston blamed the Democrats for not getting the money. That's a bunch of hooey."
Yesterday, state Senator Eric Johnson announced a deal with the state D.O.T. to speed up the project. In his announcement, the G.O.P. senator called for an end to finger-pointing... but also blamed the lack of funds on Congress.
Last fall, Republican Jack Kingston got a G.O.P.-led Congress to include funds to replace the bridge in a spending bill, but it never passed. When Democrats took over Congress this year, the earmark disappeared and Kingston's office told reporters that he had done the best he could to get it back.
That sent local Democratic official Tom Oxnard into offensive mode. Today he told County Commissioners the project shouldn't be political, but at the same time asked what Kingston had been doing for years before the Democratic takeover.
"This whole thing started with them," Oxnard said. "Kingston blamed the Democrats for not getting the money. That's a bunch of hooey."
Yesterday, state Senator Eric Johnson announced a deal with the state D.O.T. to speed up the project. In his announcement, the G.O.P. senator called for an end to finger-pointing... but also blamed the lack of funds on Congress.
