As our nation faces these challenging economic times, it's not surprising that much of our attention is focused on state and federal spending. Recent efforts by President Obama and Congress to spur economic recovery have prompted intense debate throughout America, and rightfully so. We cannot spend ourselves into prosperity, as the problems which have caused this economic slump are deep, systemic and far-reaching. So it's appropriate that we scrutinize the costs and benefits, both short-term and long-term, of taxpayer-funded programs, such as the so-called economic stimulus package ($787 billion) and the federal omnibus budget ($410 billion).
Regrettably, the national media and a few in-state critics have unfairly seized upon a federal investment of $950,000 into the Myrtle Beach Convention Center as pork-barrel politics. Media elite, such as CNN's Dana Bash, have piled onto this one specific investment, presumably because its sponsor, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has been an outspoken critic of recent federal spending. Unfortunately, these critics are wrong to attack this project and its sponsor. Their approach may be best described as ready-fire-aim.
Graham has consistently railed against federal spending that lacks transparency and accountability. Instead, he has advocated for spending with full disclosure and a uniform appropriation process.
The earmark for the Convention Center has, in fact, been fully disclosed with Graham as its sponsor. The benefits, including job creation and tourism growth, have been studied and analyzed. The project merits state and federal support. We should thank Graham for his eager support and leadership. Why?
The Convention Center attracts more than 170 annual events with nearly 550,000 attendees. The economic impact of the center exceeds $50 million annually. The Convention Center also serves as a command center during the city's emergency operations and could be a pivotal investment in the future of Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas.
Today, the convention center is nearing full-capacity and expansion plans are long overdue. Once the expansion project is under way, it will create hundreds of jobs which we most certainly need and will help to attract even more groups and events to the Grand Strand. Ultimately, the state and federal governments will reap far more in tax revenues from this project than they will invest, providing a generous return on their investments.
Most of the funding needed for this expansion will come from our local community.
The funding in the federal omnibus spending bill is a tiny portion of what will be needed but will help to ensure this expansion gets started. Apparently, this worthwhile investment does not meet with approval by a few national media elite who ignore the facts and strive only for headlines and sound bites. Never mind these same media saw firsthand the limited size of this convention center during the 2008 presidential debates.
Ironically, CNN was the first organization to question whether or not our community could effectively serve the interests of national media in such a high-profile event, yet soon acknowledged just how well our community performed in the national spotlight.
While we value the media's desire to draw attention to federal spending, we take issue with their criticism of funding for the Convention Center expansion.
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