Editorial: Infrastructure Needs Won’t Go Away

The 2008 general election is looming before us. In some ways it represents a race for the finish. Aside from sweeping changes in Congress, one of the two major presidential candidates will be stopped in his tracks. What does that mean for the barge and towing industry and related enterprises? Will things get better, or will it still be necessary to beg for a pittance?

During the last two years we saw that Congress was on our side; it passed Water Resources Development Act 2007 with flying colors. We hoped we were finally off to the races. But scenarios changed abruptly. Thoughts of money pouring into inland waterways infrastructure were neutralized by financial demands for the war in Iraq and recovery efforts following devastating hurricanes. Today we face a worldwide financial crisis. In short, there is no money. Or is there? We know Congress will fund costly earmarks, some worthy, some not. They call it political expediency. We can predict that the new president will experience difficulty in trying to eliminate programs that don’t work. Still, even the poor know they must fund absolute necessities.

Given the role of the United States in world trade and other leadership efforts, strengthening our water transportation infrastructure is crucial. We don’t need fancy hood ornaments. We need good tires and gas in the tank! For when the “winds of war” have died down, storm–ravaged cities are rejuvenated and the financial problems are less critical, the inland waterways infrastructure will still be there—needing improvement and better maintenance. What about the health of our nation’s water transportation infrastructure? It is not going to go away. The questions are, “Will it be targeted for better treatment? Or will it remain wanting and continue to be underbudgeted? What will the new president do?

History has revealed over the last few decades that few if any presidents really wave the banner for waterways. Generally speaking, presidents have just paid lip service during presidential campaigns. The Office of Management and Budget and its predecessors have always taken the axe to waterway proposals, all in the name of budget–cutting. Today we are told to look for a 2008 budget deficit of $454 billion. Financial support for waterways over the years has been the result of excellent efforts by congressional members who truly did (and do) know the value of the waterways industry. Due to circumstances, however, WRDA 2007 virtually has been flushed down the toilet. We can only hope that Congress feels now as it did during the days when it overturned the president’s wishes and voted for the bill. So where do we stand?

An October 7 statement issued on behalf of Sen. McCain and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said, “John McCain believes that safe, efficient, environmentally friendly marine transportation is a key component in meeting America’s energy needs, helping American manufacturing and agriculture stay competitive in tough world markets and keeping well–paying jobs in America…Our coastal and inland fleets transport vast quantities of cargoes that keep American moving and reduce congestion on our highways. John McCain supports a strong American merchant marine and the infrastructure that is vitally important to maritime commerce.” That, in a nutshell, is exactly the message the brown–water towing industry has been pushing for decades.

Sen. Obama has the endorsement of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, ILA, and the Seafarers International Union. He says in an undated position paper that the need for 21st century transportation networks “has never been greater.” It says, “America’s long–term competitiveness depends on the stability of our infrastructure…As president, Obama will make strengthening our transportation systems…a top priority.” New national infrastructure investment will create jobs, the statement says. It defines transportation infrastructure and includes a section where it expresses Obama’s strong support for water resources development (the act), which, it says, “will provide funding for “modernizing the Mississippi and Illinois rivers system of locks and dams…The decay of locks and dams has led to stagnating economic development for areas along the river, including Iowa, because of the decreasing ability of farmers and other producers to ship their goods both domestically and internationally.” The American Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association have praised Obama for his work to pass the Water Resources Development Act.

What readers have just read about the positions of Obama and McCain as they relate to water transportation infrastructure are statements we could expect any presidential candidate to make. They sound good on paper. Is it just campaign rhetoric? We hope not. Ours is but to pray that both truly believe in their hearts what they have expressed officially. Our industry depends on it.

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