RSSCCAGW Questions Bill to Rename Rio Grande Canal
CAGW* | August 19, 2008
The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) has expressed its opposition to a bill introduced by Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) to rename the Rio Grande American Canal System near El Paso, Texas after a private citizen who has contributed $13,500 to the congressman’s election campaigns since 1996. Rep. Reyes’ bill, H.R. 6041, would rename the 6-year-old canal after El Paso resident Travis C. Johnson, a lawyer and member of the Board of Directors of Southwest Airlines, who had a hand in the resolution of disputes between Mexico and the United States over Rio Grande water rights and the development of the canal. “Americans are paying more than $4 a gallon at the pump for gasoline; the nation has no coherent energy policy, not to mention a plan to address the nation’s critical infrastructure needs; and the Natural Resources Committee is spending its time and staff resources worrying about renaming a federally-funded public works project after a campaign contributor to Rep. Reyes. How does this bill not qualify as a quid pro quo?,” asked CCAGW President Tom Schatz. Read more about Rep. Reyes’ special interest bill.