With a 412-4 vote on a water resources bill, the U.S. House moved the $706 million Savannah Port deepening another step closer to groundbreaking.
Senate passage is next for the $12.3 billion conference report for the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, and it could come as soon as this week. Once President Obama signs it, the Army Corps of Engineers is cleared to sign the final agreement with the Port so the dredging can begin with money Georgia taxpayers have already set aside.
Two of the four Georgia congressmen fighting for their political futures today made a quick trip back to D.C. for the vote. Senate-seeking Reps. Jack Kingston and Phil Gingrey were there to record their support in the landslide; Reps. Paul Broun and Hank Johnson stayed in Georgia to work the ground in today's primary vote.
WSB Radio's Jamie Dupree snagged us Kingston's remarks, which were on topic:
And Gingrey's comments, which were not. They focused on Obamacare:
“You know, I just really want to get that thing done so it’s certainly worth it,” Kingston said Monday. “We’ve worked so hard on this thing for so long, to have an opportunity to get it to the floor really at any time, it’s really worth it.”
On Sunday Gingrey said he was eager to make the vote.
“I can’t miss the WRRDA bill, that’s too important for the state, and I’m still a member of the House of Representatives,” he said. “I wanted to fill that commitment.”
From Broun spokeswoman Christine Hardman:
"Dr. Broun certainly supports the deepening of the Savannah harbor - he voted in support of the bill the first time it came through the House. With WRDA being under suspension [of the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote], it appears House leadership is confident that WRDA should pass. Dr. Broun believes it is important that he continue talking with Georgians about saving America from out-of-control government until the polls close tonight."
Johnson spokesman Andy Phelan said the Lithonia Democrat -- facing a tough primary from DeKalb County Sheriff Tom Brown -- is "seeing the primary through." But Johnson is headed back to D.C. at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
One interesting note about the lopsided vote: Heritage Action for America and other typically influential conservative groups opposed the bill for being too expensive and not reforming the water projects process enough. The Georgia delegation members who showed up were united in support.
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