Joy Hampton
Oct. 11, 2009 — U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, (R-Okla) met Friday with Claremore city leaders to discuss the upcoming construction of a regional trans-modal facility in the Claremore North Business Park.
As Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Inhofe helped secure a $1.9 million grant from the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration to help pay for the project.
According to the Dept. of Commerce, the new facility will “enhance the ability of regional manufacturing entities to transport goods and will help the region become disaster resilient by providing additional, alternative transportation options during major flooding events and severe weather.”
“The EDA has a tremendous success story,” said Inhofe. “It has awarded $28 million in Oklahoma. With state and local contributions at $30 million and $560 million in private contributions.”
Inhofe said those private/public partnerships are important for future development.
“We’re going farther than that,” said Inhofe. He said he learned from former U.S. Rep. Wes Watkins who took a region of southeast Oklahoma from lowest income to medium income.
Inhofe said it’s his goal to help “release money and dynamics from the private sector to get things done.”
Tim Hight, executive director of the Claremore Industrial and Economic Development Authority, discussed the planned construction with Inhofe during the senator’s stopover. City manager Troy Powell discussed issues faces Oklahoma municipalities.
Inhofe said he serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Environmental and Public Works Committee because his top two priorities are a strong national defense and infrastructure.
“The greatest problem facing us in the cities is unfunded mandates,” said Inhofe.
Also of concern to Inhofe at this time is the Highway Trust Fund.
“We have a great Secretary of Transportation,” said Inhofe. He said Sec. Gary Ridley’s trip to Washington earlier this year was productive and informative.
Inhofe said high gas prices a year ago negatively impacted the Highway Trust Fund when consumption of gas decreased, resulting in fewer tax dollars flowing into the fund.
According to Ihhofe, in 1998 under President Bill Clinton, money was moved from the Highway Trust Fund to the General Trust Fund to balance the budget.
“We wanted to pay it back, and we did that a year ago,” said Inhofe.
That shored up the struggling Trust Fund at that time. Now the Trust Fund is depleted again.
Inhofe said a recent bipartisan effort in conjunction with U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to move half-a billion dollars from TARP to the Highway Trust Fund did not succeed.
“My own conservative Republicans said ‘no.’”
Currently, the Trust Fund is operating on a 30-day extension.
