Alaska Abandons Bridge to Nowhere

The following post originally appeared on Nationaldebtbusters on Sept. 21, 2007. Since it has come back in the news again, I thought I'd repost this for your edification.


Americans for Prosperity Calls Victorious Defeat of Bridge to Nowhere a Testament to the Power of Grassroots Activism
Citizen Group Visited the Bridge to Nowhere in August 2006

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the heels of news today that the state of Alaska has officially abandoned plans to pursue the infamous Gravina Bridge to Nowhere project, Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips issued the following victory statement:

"The death of the Alaska Bridge to Nowhere is a testament to the power of grassroots activism. Citizen outrage against hard-earned tax dollars being wasted on questionable pet projects delivered this victory for taxpayers. To paraphrase the late Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois, when citizen activists turned up the heat on Congress, lawmakers saw the light.
By communicating their frustration over this incredibly wasteful use of federal tax dollars, citizens created an environment in which the Bridge to Nowhere could not survive any longer.

"I applaud those hard-nosed lawmakers that helped to fight against the Bridge to Nowhere, including Senator Tom Coburn, Representative Jeff Flake, and Representative Mark Kirk.

"As we drove more than 10,000 miles across 37 states on our Ending Earmarks Express road tour last year, which visited the Bridge to Nowhere, one outraged citizen after another told us that the earmark favor factory must be shut down. By refusing to remain silent while their tax dollars were abused, citizens defeated the Bridge to Nowhere.

"This victory today is a key reason why over 1,000 citizens are committed to come to Washington, DC, as part of Americans for Prosperity Foundation's Defending the American Dream Summit on October 4-5. This Summit will be a massive show of force in support of fiscal restraint and against abuse of tax dollars. With these grassroots troops we can restore genuine fiscal restraint to Washington and bring an end to questionable earmarks like the Bridge to Nowhere."

Editors Note: Americans for Prosperity Foundation traveled over 10,000 miles across the nation on the Ending Earmarks Express road tour last year, visiting 37 states and 50 earmarks, including the Bridge to Nowhere. AFPF was the first Washington, DC-based group to visit the proposed site of the Gravina Bridge to Nowhere.

To view video of AFP President Tim Phillips speaking on the ferry from Gravina Island to Ketchikan, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6q__0-krUo.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation's premier grassroots
organization committed to advancing every individual's right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits.