“Eden Prairie Today” Wednesday March 18 webcast — Paulsen goes after AIG
Author: admin | Category: After Eden
Our man in Washington isn’t wasting much time.
Freshman representative Erik Paulsen was on the House floor again this morning, this time going after AIG and the Treasury Department after news came out that the company has paid out about $168 million in bonuses to the very employees that caused the financial crises.
AIG has received about $200 billion in bailout money, which means the Federal government owns a roughly 80 percent stake in the company.
Paulsen got a seat on the House Finance Committee, in and of itself unusual for a freshman, and has been directed by GOP leaders in the House to be the front man on the bonuses issue, according a report in the Minnesota Independent today.
I’d show you that speech, but it’s a little long for today’s webcast. Search “Paulsen Floor Speech on AIG” on YouTube if you want to check it out.
The 494/169 interchange project that has been discussed as a candidate for federal stimulus funds ran into a snag this week at a meeting with MNdot, the cities of Edina, Bloomington and Eden Prairie and local officials with the Federal Highway Administration on Monday.
Eden Prairie Public Works Director was at the meeting and told me the FHWA has a problem with the proposed design because it doesn’t have an exit from 494 east to 169 northbound. MNdot and each of the three cities support the current design proposal.
The FHWA wants to see the additional ramp in the design, but that would increase the cost of the project by $35-40 million, making it impossible for Eden Prairie at least to fund the project, Dietz said.
MNdot would need a loan of about $34 million for the project to go without the additional ramp, which would be provided jointly by the three cities.
Mayor Phil Young and others at City Hall believe this is an urgent project, and if it doesn’t happen now it might never happen.
Young said he got a phone call from Rep. Paulsen last night, and that Paulsen is aware of the situation and has drafted a letter to the Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood trying to grease the wheels.
Dietz called the project the most important in the state.
Alright let’s check out the weather and then I’ll let you get out of here.
Here’s the weather underground forecast.
Oh, and I think I should tell you that the City Council at their meeting last night also recognized the boy’s hockey team and passed an ordinance that will keep the lights on at city baseball fields later this summer.
Duration : 0:3:36
