TIM GRIFFIN

  • TIM GRIFFIN

The Democratic Party offers an elaboration on U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin’s claim that he has worked for a $500,000 increase in spending by the federal pipeline safety agency.

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From news accounts:

“Griffin’s proposal, which was approved by a voice vote, would raise the budget for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration by $500,000 over the spending proposed by President Obama.”

The Democratic Party counters:

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Congressman Griffin Repeatedly Voted to Keep Cuts to Pipeline Safety. In 2013, Griffin voted to keep federal sequester cuts impacting pipeline safety. The Office of Management and Budget reported that in FY 2013, the federal sequester would make the cuts to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, including: $5 million from pipeline safety, $1 million from emergency preparedness grants, $1 million from Trust Fund Share of Pipeline Safety, and $2 million from hazardous materials safety. For FY 2014, the federal sequester would cut $2 million from PHMSA’s emergency preparedness grants. [H Con Res 25, Vote #88, 3/21/13; HR 115, Vote #82, 3/19/13; OMB FY 2014 Report, 5/20/13; OMB FY 2013 Report, 3/01/13]

I’ve asked Griffin’s office to counter the counter. In short: where’s the other 90 percent?

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