Buerkle: Keeping Them Barefoot and Pregnant

By her lonely vote against government supports for broadband in rural areas, affecting small businesses and farmers, Ann Marie essentially votes to keep rural areas in the last century and uncompetitive.

Thanks to the Watertown Daily Times for this coverage.

Owens supports broadband program

HOUSE VOTE: $6m in spending measure will help grants, loans

By MARC HELLER

TIMES WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2011

WASHINGTON — Rep. William L. Owens on Thursday helped salvage $6 million for a program that could help expand high-speed Internet service in parts of Northern New York.

The House approved a measure that Mr. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, co-sponsored with Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, to save the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rural broadband grant and loan program from elimination in the House Republicans' annual spending bill for agriculture programs.

The $6 million the lawmakers secured pales when compared with the $22.3 million the program received this year, but it ensures that at least some communities still will be able to compete for funds. The bill covers the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Critics said the great majority of the country has broadband access, and they attacked the program for failing to focus on the most isolated rural areas, echoing a federal report that cited the program's shortcomings. In some cases, outlying areas of major cities have received funding through the rural program.

"This program is not necessary. And in a time when we're talking about saving money, we do not need to increase this account," said Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture.

Mr. Kingston said New York is 99.8 percent covered by broadband access, with similar rates in other states. And he said lawmakers have received complaints over the years about the department's unresponsiveness to program applicants. In some cases, he said, "they get approved but they can't get their money."

The vote on the broadband measure was 221-198. New York's upstate delegation mostly supported the broadband funding, with the exception of Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, R-Syracuse, who voted against it. ....

To see the complete article go here.

Buerkle would apparently vote against her own grandmother if it meant keeping the Tea Party conservatives off her back.