The "map" pointed to where Walsh had negotiated for millions of dollars in federal aid for Central New York in a series of congressional spending bills that were not acted on in 2008. Walsh, a Republican, told Maffei, his former Democratic rival, where to find the money, and to make sure it was included in legislation that would be voted on this year. On Wednesday, their collaborative effort paid off in a big way for Central New York. The House of Representatives passed a $410 billion domestic spending bill for fiscal 2009 that combined nine annual appropriations bills left over from last year. Congressman James Walsh of New York served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal in the 1960's.
Before he retired from Congress at the beginning of the year, former Rep. James Walsh left his successor, Rep. Dan Maffei, with a treasure map of sorts
Walsh, Maffei work together to bring millions for Central New York
by Mark Weiner / The Post-Standard
Thursday February 26, 2009, 6:28 AM
[Excerpt]
Washington -- Before he retired from Congress at the beginning of the year, former Rep. James Walsh left his successor, Rep. Dan Maffei, with a treasure map of sorts.
The "map" pointed to where Walsh had negotiated for millions of dollars in federal aid for Central New York in a series of congressional spending bills that were not acted on in 2008.
Walsh, a Republican, told Maffei, his former Democratic rival, where to find the money, and to make sure it was included in legislation that would be voted on this year.
On Wednesday, their collaborative effort paid off in a big way for Central New York. The House of Representatives passed a $410 billion domestic spending bill for fiscal 2009 that combined nine annual appropriations bills left over from last year.
The legislation, which now moves to the Senate, includes more than a dozen local projects to be paid for with about $10 million earmarked for the Syracuse area.
The bill includes money for many of the region's big educational institutions, as well as small neighborhood programs -- about $475,000 to rehabilitate housing through the Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative and $285,000 to turn Burnet Park's former ice rink on the city's West Side into an all-season recreation center.
"It's great for the community," Walsh said of the local projects approved Wednesday. "It will help in a difficult time. It will hopefully position our community to come out of this recession in a strong way."
