St. Petersburg College Benefits from Late Pork Flurry - Martinez Implies Credit

While the last days of the old Congress were better known for abdication of responsibility (having only passed nine of eleven appropriation bills, instead using continuing resolutions to keep the government running until a new Democratic controlled Congress could start - it seems that even Republican Congresspersons think Democrats would do a better job), some things were accomplished - including something for our own St. Petersburg College (which this author still remembers as St. Petersburg Junior College).

Less than popular Florida Senator Mel Martinez applauded the $1.2 million given to St. Petersburg College for job training programs in healthcare, specializing in information technology. While the press release is meant to imply that Martinez had something to do with this, it is far more likely that the St. Petersburg area Congressman and the cunning former chair of the House Appropriations Committee pulled the strings for the college. Even in a lean year for pork, Young was able to take advantage of a minor, last minute flurry of earmarks.