Four Members of Congress Want CRC Economic Impact Study

By NIGEL JAQUISS

Today four members of Congress, Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.), Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) wrote to the Coast Guard's top officer in the Northwest today asking for further evaluation of the potential economic impact of the proposed $3.5 billion Columbia River Crossing Project. It's worth noting that all four members are Republicans, who maintain a 232 to 200 majority in the House.

The letter comes as the Oregon Legislature prepares to convene on Feb. 4. Gov. John Kitzhaber and House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland) have said they will push for an early vote to appropriate Oregon's $450 million contribution to the project. The Coast Guard is already on record expressing concerns that the current bridge design is too low.

WWeek 2015

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