Controversy Erupts Over Bridge to Microsoft

Computing giant Microsoft has found itself at the center of a controversy surrounding the spending of federal stimulus money. Washington governor, Chris Gregoire, OK'd $11 million of stimulus money for a bridge in the town of Redmond that would connect two Microsoft campuses across a six-lane highway.

Redmond Mayor John Marchione applied for the stimulus funds after the cost of the project rose from $25 million to an estimated $36 million. Although Microsoft is contributing $17.5 million to the project, the bridge, which will carry both pedestrians and vehicles, is open to the public (Microsoft employees are expected to account for less than half of the traffic). Marchione told CNN, "Our traffic studies show that Microsoft traffic would be about 42-percent of the bridge, yet Microsoft is paying for about 50-percent of the bridge, so we think we are getting fair value."

That argument didn't win over Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, or Michael Ennis of the Washington Policy Center, however. Both believe that the project is not the sort of construction that the stimulus plan was meant to bankroll. Ennis did, however, voice general support for the project, telling CNN, "Any time you can include the private sector in funding transportation projects, it's a win-win situation." Ellis was much more cynical: "This is really about getting while the getting is good. Uncle Sam has a big wallet that's there for the taking, and Redmond wanted to take it."


There seem to be legitimate arguments on both sides. The project is "shovel-ready," will create 400 jobs over an 18-month period, and is technically part of public infrastructure. However, the primary benefactor of the construction will be Microsoft, who could, probably, easily afford to cover the price increase, even if it did just make its first ever round of layoffs.

What do you think? Waste of tax-payer money? Or a wise investment in Redmond's future? Sound off in the comments. [From: CNN]

Related links:

• Obama's Address Filled With Techie Promises
• Microsoft Announces Its Own Stimulus Plan
• Bill Gates Says Economic Downturn to Last Four Years

Tags: bridge, economic stimulus, EconomicStimulus, economy, government, microsoft, stimulus