Letter to the editor: Wanzek is working hard to secure road funding

I am responding to a Feb. 6 article about Sen. John Grabinger’s withdrawal of a road funding bill. Let me share my experience over the last two sessions of working these critical infrastructure issues all across our state, particularly in the non-oil impacted areas.

Your Sen. Terry Wanzek has led the legislative effort to secure adequate funding for our important rural infrastructure needs. His leadership and perseverance to pass $73.6 million appropriation in the Senate, outside the governor’s budget, last session made rural road funding a predominate issue this session. Sadly, the entire $76.3 million did not survive the House Appropriations process, but much of what was turned back then was provided by the governor in the 2011 special session’s emergency package without opposition.

I will also share with you that Wanzek is working hard again this session to insure appropriate rural road funding occurs. He has submitted changes to the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s budget providing additional funding for counties and townships in your area and across North Dakota. In addition, he is the prime sponsor of a bridge repair measure that appropriates $25 million for county and township bridge work, and directs a study to ensure the legislature has current data and cost factors on North Dakota’s bridges for future work. There’s more; he has consistently worked in a bipartisan effort to achieve these successes. His bridge proposal has sponsors from both parties.

I have the privilege of working with Wanzek on these issues. I am witness to his dedicated work with township and county leaders; the Department of Transportation leadership; legislative leaders; and his colleges on these critical rural ribbons of life.

(Rising is legislative director for the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association)

Tags: opinion, letters, politics