(Sept. 26, 2005) -- Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald (D., Carson-LB), a senior member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the House-Senate conference committee that hammered out the final version of the recently-passed national Transportation bill (SAFETEA-LU), has told LBReport.com she doesn't know what $1.672 million allocated in the bill to LB's Museum of Latin American Art (in her district) "to build [an] intermodal park and ride facility" is for, doesn't know how it got in the bill and doesn't know who requested the money.

LBReport.com asked Congresswoman Millender-McDonald about the item following a September 19 LB luncheon at which Port and City Hall officials praised her for delivering Transportation bill money including $100 million in initial funding for a Port-desired rebuild of the Gerald Desmond bridge (permitting 10,000 TEU container megaships to enter the PoLB) and associated 710 freeway expansion.

The Transportation bill contained other items sought by LB City Hall, previously detailed by LBReport.com) including federal money that could be used to cover the Atherton St. drainage ditch.

The $1.672 million to build an "intermodal park and ride facility" at LB's Museum of Latin American Art was listed among the bill's items in City Hall-Port release in connection with the luncheon, but some city staffers have separately indicated to LBReport.com that they are not familiar with the item.

MoLAA's Director of PR and Marketing, Susan Golden, told LBReport.com she has no information on the item...and said she doesn't think it's a "park and ride" facility because she doesn't believe there's room for one...and doesn't know to what the term "intermodal" refers in the context of the item.

In podium remarks during the luncheon, Congresswoman Millender-McDonald took aim at critics who've charged that the Transportation bill was loaded with pork. "Some have asked why it is that we've passed such a Pork bill in Transportation. Pork bill? When we have not seen the likes of such bridges and roads across this country that need to be fixed? That we have not seen the growth like we've never had before in this country, especially in this state and this region? There should not be any question. And those who say it's a Pork bill, tell 'em to come see me, because I'll show them why it is not a Pork bill..."

Following up on her challenge, we asked the Congresswoman after the luncheon about the MoLLA item. She gave us the answer below.

For the record, we asked the Congresswoman's DC office about the item weeks ago...and received polite but non-responsive responses. After receiving the Congresswoman's response (below), we withheld publication for a week to give her office yet another opportunity to provide us with the information.

Our question to the Congresswoman began by noting that in her podium remarks she'd listed several LB area projects, but not the MoLAA item:

[begin transcript]