GOP: Stimulus needs ‘kick in pants’ to focus on bridges; AP shows bad bridges often ignored

GOP: Give ‘kick in pants’ to stimulus bridge work

WASHINGTON — A top Republican congressman says the government needs a “kick in the pants” to get federal stimulus money focused on repairing dilapidated bridges.

Rep. John Mica, the senior Republican on the transportation committee, said he’s frustrated that states are spending so much on routine paving and not focusing on shoring up tens of thousands of bad bridges. He said there’s too much red tape involved in bridge projects.

President Obama pitched the stimulus as a way to create jobs quickly while repairing the nation’s crumbling bridges.

Mica was responding to an Associated Press analysis that found states are so concerned about spending the money quickly, they’re passing up bad bridges in favor repaving or working on bridges that are already in good shape.