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Oct 2, 2007 7:18 pm US/Central
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Pawlenty: Requests For Fed. Bridge Aid Tops $315M
St. Paul (AP) ―
Gov. Tim Pawlenty said his administration has asked the federal government for more than $315 million to deal with the Minneapolis freeway bridge collapse -- a higher figure than was previously known.
Congress quickly authorized $250 million for the state after the Aug. 1 disaster. But so far, only $55 million is available while state officials wait for Congress to appropriate the remaining $195 million.
Pawlenty outlined his efforts to get more federal aid in a letter to U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar and the state's four other Democratic U.S. House members on Tuesday. The GOP governor also chastised the representatives for sending him a letter urging him to apply for aid from a separate federal fund.
Pawlenty said next time they should call his office instead of speaking with the media.
Oberstar and the others want Pawlenty to seek a portion of a $175 million emergency relief fund that became available to the states this week. The governor said the state can't tap those federal funds until it uses up the money already authorized by Congress.
Pawlenty urged the representatives to get Minnesota its promised money quickly.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)