Representative Dusty Johnson famously said last August that relieving student loan debt is a “slap in the face” to folks who pay off their student loans without any government assistance. Now Congressman Johnson slaps the faces of cities that can afford their own airports by protecting subsidies for rural airports:
U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) led efforts to successfully turn back a plan to charge the Pierre, Aberdeen, and Watertown communities more than $4 million over the next ten years to maintain passenger air service during the committee hearing.
In particular, the amendments will save Pierre’s city government a total of $120,600 per year beginning in 2027.
…Johnson’s amendment would exempt an EAS airport that is located more than 175 driving miles from the nearest medium or large hub airport from a five percent funding cut that is included in the bill.
Pierre is located 394 miles away from the nearest medium or large hub airport, which is located in Minneapolis, MN.
Airports in Aberdeen and Watertown would also qualify for the exemption. In Aberdeen, the cost savings would total $160,379 per year, and in Watertown the cost savings due to the amendment exemptions total around $120,607 per year.
…”It’s important for us to have a national commitment to infrastructure in the same way we have rural electrification or interstate highway systems,” Johnson said. . “These are major American accomplishments. Having an American aviation system that just doesn’t connect the big cities is a major accomplishment” [Shannon Marvel, “Rep. Johnson’s Amendment a Win for Pierre Regional Airport,” Pierre Capital Journal, 2023.06.14].
Congressman Johnson is pretty good at making socialist arguments for wealth redistribution to protect the rural flyers and farmers who vote for him. He must not think rural student debt holders vote.
Dusty wants to cut federal spending but not in South Dakota. We have sacrificed enough!!
https://act.newmode.net/action/united-today-stronger-tomorrow/call-rep-dusty-johnson-support-sd-infrastructure
Johnson and Marlboro Barbie voted no on infrastructurem bill. Cardboard Mike did not vote.
Yes, socialized agriculture, socialized dairies, socialized cheese, socialized livestock production, a socialized timber industry, socialized air service, socialized freight rail, a socialized nursing home industry, a socialized internet, socialized gas well remediation and now a socialized water system are all fine with Republicans in South Dakota but then they insist single-payer medical insurance is socialized medicine.
Yes, socialized agriculture, socialized dairies, socialized cheese, socialized livestock production, a socialized timber industry, socialized air service, socialized freight rail, a socialized nursing home industry, a socialized internet, socialized gas well remediation and now a socialized water system are all fine with Republicans in South Dakota but then they insist single-payer medical insurance is socialized medicine.
Local and state government SHOULD ALWAYS have to match at least 15% of federal money given to them. If it is important, then the recipient of the federal money should be willing to pay part of the cost. The federal budget would be in much better shape if local and state governments had to participate more financially as this would eliminate a lot of wasteful spending.