The problem with bobsleds

I interviewed Conservative party candidate Doug Hoffman the other day about his fight to win John McHugh’s House seat in the upcoming special election.

Hoffman describes himself as a fiscally conservative Republican (despite his party affiliation) and says he’s running because he fears that career politicians in Washington and Albany could bankrupt us.

But when I asked him about earmarks — I mentioned Federal funding for the multi-million dollar Lake Placid bobsled run as an example — Hoffman supported them enthusiastically.

“That’s a perfect example of bringing money home that gets the return on the investment that the taxpayer makes in the economy.”

Hoffman also supported more Federal funding for economic development programs in Watertown.

“We have to start looking at getting government investment in the Watertown area to build up up the economy so that Fort Drum isn’t the only stimulus to the economy…”

This kind of thing is music to the ears of many locals. State and Federal money — paid for largely by taxpayers in other places — already drives much of our regional economy.

Frankly, it’s great politics. But it’s hard to see how it squares with a fiscally conservative agenda.

(Using big government to stimulate the economy is usually seen as a mantra of the Democratic Party.)

The truth is, every House district in the United States has a project that’s the equivalent of Lake Placid’s bobsled run.

Every district has a small city like Watertown that wants more and more taxpayer dollars to spur the economy.

One man’s pork is another man’s sensible government investment. And yes, using the Federal treasury in this way has led us to run up massive deficits.

So how does Hoffman’s call for even more Federal spending in the 23rd District align with his call for lower taxes and smaller government?

That’s unclear. On his website, Hoffman says he would “cut the pork and wasteful earmarks” without citing specifics.

It will be helpful during the campaign if he will offer voters some bold and substantial examples of wasteful, unnecessary or inappropriate Federal spending here in the region.

If smaller government is good for the nation, then surely it’s good for the North Country.