The D&C had a write-up about Louise Slaughter and her take on funding for RenSquare. I read the article and was struck by a couple of things;

Does anyone else find it odd that, while our County Executive Maggie Brooks is railing against unfunded mandates, she and her RenSquare supporters are upset that the Federal government is questioning funds for a project that after years of being in the works - does not have a plan? Sounds a bit hypocritical to me on Maggie’s part.

The project was announced in 2004 and has suffered delays, though project planners pledge that the budget will not exceed its projected cost, despite rising construction costs. To meet that $230 million budget, the project is being redesigned to use cheaper materials.

 As I have said earlier, the original design was $230 million. The new plans use a smaller footprint and are scaled back. Why is it still $230 million?

But the article was about Rep Louise Slaughter and how she was taken to task by some of her fellow WNY Congressmen to protect some federal funds currently destined for RenSquare.

Rep. Louise Slaughter would like to use federal funds set aside for Renaissance Square on a different local project, but she said Wednesday that she won’t redirect the money on her own.

In an interview, Slaughter reacted to a letter from Reps. James Walsh, R-Onondaga, and Thomas Reynolds, R-Clarence, Erie County, asking that the Fairport Democrat protect $19 million in transportation funds earmarked for Renaissance Square that could disappear.

These lame duck Congressmen (well, “lame” works)  need to have an “A” game, I suppose. Did Congressman Randy Kuhl sign on as well or because he is in a tough reelection fight chose to avoid confronting Congresswoman Slaughter. Anyway, Slaughter’s take is:

But Slaughter, the House Rules Committee chairwoman, said the plan has outgrown its usefulness. She said a train station that also would include bus facilities is needed more than a multimillion-dollar bus station that won’t improve bus service, especially because many riders need improved access to the suburbs, not routes through downtown.

Got that? - You need to transfer through downtown. I take this to mean that if you want to go from Henrietta to Victor, you need to go through downtown. But she goes on:

Among the congresswoman’s concerns is the project’s funding gap, which is $55 million.

“Where they’re going to get that money, nobody knows,” she said.

But the truth is in the last portion of the article.

“We’d appreciate any help we can get from those who would offer it,” said Mike Power, communications director for the project.

Yeah - toss me a life line. Why?