Bush government pumps billions into key election battlegrounds

WHETHER as loan guarantees for a shop in Ohio or a grant for a Florida power plant, the Bush administration is showering hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money on toss-up states in the presidential election.

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, for example, went to Orlando, Florida, last week to announce a $235 million grant to help build a clean-burning power plant. The project “will account for more than 1,800 jobs,” he said.

Other recent awards were $46.7m for light rail in the Pittsburgh area; $17.9m to reduce aircraft noise at the Reno, Nevada, airport; $36,500 for a fire truck and ambulance in Minnesota, and $4.5m in guarantees for a shop near Cleveland.