Des Moines Business Record
06-09-07
D.C.: It's where the money is
It's stunning to contemplate, really. Vast quantities of tax money flow to the
federal government, then cities and states go begging to get a cut. If there's a
single word to describe this process, that word is not "efficient."
The pot of cash certainly doesn't grow bigger during its stay in Washington, D.C.
When we receive $1 million for a project in Des Moines, should we think of it as
receiving some of our taxes back? Or are we getting some of the money paid by
the hard-working folks of Wichita or Fort Wayne, beating them out this year and
knowing that someone else will beat us next year?
What would it be like if a thriving region like ours got to keep its money and
spend as it saw fit?
Ah, well. Maybe it all balances out in the long run, and everybody gets their fair
share. Let's go with that thought for the time being.
Anyway, this year's delegation from the Greater Des Moines Partnership took an
interesting shopping list to Washington, and it will be fascinating to see how well
the effort pays off.
Last year, Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive
Director Tom Kane predicted that federal funding for transportation projects will
be tight for a few years. Still, the 2007 delegation sought $55 million for surface
transportation projects, $18.8 million for public transportation and $15 million for
aviation.
We have enough trouble funding state universities and paying public
schoolteachers, and yet the Partnership supported a request from Simpson
College for $743,500 for its Blank Performing Arts Center.
When it comes to bad odors, the conversation in Iowa always turns to hogs. And
yet, for some reason, the citified Partnership supports Iowa State University's
request for $2 million to look for ways to reduce air emissions from egg
production facilities.
It's a crazy game with no sensible rules. Let's hope we win.