Leaders keep Q-C issues atop D.C. minds
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By Jennifer DeWitt | Wednesday, February 27, 2008 |
A Quad-City delegation’s recent trip to Washington, D.C., produced invaluable face time with the area’s congressional leaders, but an election year is not the time to expect funding for any of the region’s key projects.
That was the message Tuesday as leaders of the Quad-City Development Group joined Quad-City mayors to discuss highlights of their Feb. 13-15 lobbying trip to Washington. More than
70 government, community, business and union leaders participated in what was the development group’s 12th annual trip.
“We don’t always come home with a check in hand, but this trip lays the groundwork
for future requests and future projects,” said Nancy Mulcahey, who participated on the trip
as development group’s new president. “The face-to-face meetings do make a difference.”
Over the three days, the delegation met with the area’s four senators, two representatives, their respective staffs and representatives of several federal agencies.
Updating the congressional leaders on the area’s top priorities — many of which they have heard about before — keeps the issues “top of mind,” she added.
“A delegation 70-strong coming from across the Quad-City spectrum speaks volumes,” Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert said.
During the trip, the community representatives discussed seven of the area’s key regional projects and briefed lawmakers on individual city issues and projects. This year’s major regional issues included Davenport and Rock Island’s riverfront development plan, RiverVision, expanding Amtrak to the Quad-Cities, area sewer and water infrastructure needs, Silvis rail yard upgrade, further funding for a new Interstate 74 bridge, various Rock Island Arsenal issues and Oak Glen Nursing Home.
“There isn’t a lot of money in the pipeline this year,” Schwiebert said. “In all likelihood, next year with a new administration … there will be more money for projects here at home.”
East Moline Mayor John Thodos said progress the Quad-Cities has seen in the past on issues such as the I-74 bridge, the Rock Island Arsenal and more recently, Amtrak, “is the result of the unified, positive and consistent message we’ve had.”
With changes in leadership as well as priorities, the mayors said it is important to constantly update the congressional delegation about new and old projects.
“One year, no one wanted to hear about Amtrak,” Thodos added. “Now Amtrak is Sen. Durbin’s pet project.”
Earlier this year, a feasibility study showed passenger rail could be extended to the Quad-Cities for $27 million — a figure lower than originally thought. Although federal funding could be available, state funding remains uncertain.
Moline Mayor Don Welvaert added that another year the delegation backed off of the I-74 issue in its presentations after hitting it hard year after year. “Just in that one year, we think it started to slide.”
Pete DeKock, U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley’s district director, said the group’s consistent message is important to hear in Washington. He added that when Braley and his staff listen to constituents’ requests they also are looking for consensus — something they do not always find in other lobbying groups.
According to Schwiebert, the Quad-City contingent has earned a reputation for having a unified voice and for providing a quality message. “Other communities are looking to the Quad-Cities to see how we’ve done this because we’re doing things the way they should be,” he said.
But with others borrowing best practices from the Quad-Cities, “it means we’ll have to get even smarter,” Schwiebert said.
Jennifer DeWitt can be contacted at (563) 383-2318 or jdewitt@qctimes.com.
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