Wittman expects you to be grateful for crumbs off the table
Morsels for the district aren't enough to cover the cuts Wittman voted for and defends
Wittman loves to boast about his “big” accomplishments but, most of the time, he’s touting studies, panels, or upgrades to existing infrastructure that don’t amount to crumbs off the table. Community Project Funding (CPF) is the House’s attempt to throw peanuts at needy members of Congress while also rebranding unpopular earmarks that total less than one-half of one percent of discretionary funding. In other words, this funding allows the House to make it appear that they’re doing something for the American people.
Compared to other Virginia lawmakers, Wittman’s portfolio is more rural- and infrastructure-heavy while other House members focus on transit, housing, research institutions, and social service facilities with an emphasis on climate and safety-net infrastructure.
Strengthening Coastal Resilience is funded at less than $2M to update forecasting models. This is rich considering the Trump administration is busily wiping out NOAA and the National Weather Service to privatize for his buddies.
Improving Public Safety is funded at less than $0.5M to upgrade a Public Safety System Upgrade for rural areas as Trump and Russ Vought are destroying FEMA and public radio - two of the most crucial information sources for rural residents.
Protecting Drinking Water earns $295K to protect Williamsburg against cyberattacks. One industry research firm estimates that, for a city the size of Williamsburg, a budget of $1M to $5M over several years would be needed.
Supporting Working Waterfronts will fund dredging in Mathews County to support recreational and commercial vessels. We see this as somewhat helpful but, for someone who sees himself as a Chesapeake Bay conservationist, it seems like an empty gesture.
Wittman suggests that this funding addresses “urgent local needs-public safety, clean water, coastal resilience, and economic vitality.” We support these needs without question, but we fail to see how these paltry grants will tackle these huge issues. He might be better off politically proposing real answers to these tough questions. Once again, it looks like the House of Representatives is dropping crumbs at important issues so they don’t have to bake the bread.