Trinity projects receive earmark support from Hutchison

By: Aleshia Howe/Fort Worth Business Press

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) told members of the Dallas and Fort Worth chambers of commerce she plans to push for earmarks for Trinity River plans in both North Texas cities. The promise to support the river plans via earmark requests comes on the heels of long-time Trinity River Vision supporter House Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) announcing she will not ask for earmarks for Fort Worth’s planned river project this year.

“Sen. Hutchison talked about the nature of earmarks and how they’ve really been mis-represented in the press lately,” said Cantey Hanger Managing Partner Pollard Rogers, one of the Fort Worth Chamber members who traveled to Washington, D.C., to talk with legislators. “… She is going to support funding for the Trinity River Vision and the Trinity River project in Dallas and she said the most effective way to get funding for specific projects like these is through earmarks, but earmarks have to be transparent.”

A delegation of Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce representatives visits Washington, D.C., every other year to meet with legislators, but this year the Fort Worth Chamber joined with the delegation of Dallas Regional Chamber members for the trip.

A total of 33 chamber members from Fort Worth and 12 from the Dallas organization traveled to Washington, D.C., April 20-22. The purpose of the trip is generally to build relationships with elected officials and to hear the latest news, according to Chamber Director of Communications Andra Bennett. The chambers do not present board resolutions or position papers during the visit.

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