The fight to preserve and expand funding for bicycle, pedestrian and transit projects in the federal stimulus package isn't over just yet. Because the Senate and House of Representatives didn't pass identical bills, the two sides will each send five members to a conference committee to hammer out the differences before it is signed by President Obama. A report from the committee could come as soon as later today.
The bad news is that alternative transportation usually doesn't fare well once "compromises" are ironed out by politicians. The good news is Angelenos can still have a large say in what comes out of that committee.
Congressman Henry Waxman, a progressive Congressman from the Westside, is one of the ten members on the committee. Because time is short, you should pick up the phone and call Waxman the moment you stop reading this article at either his Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-3976 or his district office at (323) 651-1040.
If you're looking for some verbal ammo before you make the call, I recommend reading yesterday's Streetsblog article on the passage of the stimulus or Portland Congressman Earl Blumenauer's piece in the Huffington Post about why bicycle funding should be preserved.
Joining Waxman from the House side are Reps. David Obey, D-Wis., Charles Rangel, D-N.Y, , Jerry
Lewis, R-Calif., and Mike Camp, R-Mich. The Senators on the committee are Harry Reid D-Nev., Max Baucus, D-Mont., Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, Thad Cochran, R-Mo., and
Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.
If you wish to give Lewis a call also, he can be reached at his Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-5861 or his San Bernadino district office at (909) 862-6030.
Update: NYC Streetsblog has some tips and talking points from the Thunderhead Alliance. Just take out that stuff about Charlie Rangel and change it to Henry Waxman and you're set.)
