Date: 1/09/03


Lugar Statement on I-69 Announcement


U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar made the following statement concerning Governor O'Bannon's announcement today about the I-69 extension in southern
Indiana:

"I have learned of Governor O'Bannon's plan for the route of federal highway I-69 through information faxed to our Washington Senate Office
following the press conference announcement. I look forward to obtaining and studying more detailed analysis of the Governor's evaluation of not
only transportation and economic development opportunities, but the impacts of the highway construction on the environment, agriculture and the
lifestyles of Hoosiers in many counties. Especially important will be his discussion of a strategy to identify $1.7 billion in present-day funds plus
future inflation factors in federal, state and local government budgets, plus any private resources, to finance the I-69 proposal. All Hoosiers may wish
to discuss the priority of such expenditures and the probability of potential public and private economic gains at a time of extraordinary national
security, health care, social security, and education needs in Indiana and throughout our country."

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