NEWS - Editorial & Opinion

By Lou Phelps, SBJ Publisher

Nov 16, 2011 – As the smoke clears after Transportation Secretary LaHood’s visit to Savannah Tuesday, it appears that a number of things got worked out – politically – when it comes to garnering federal and Obama Administration support for the deepening for the Savannah River project.

This morning, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson issued a joint statement, pledging to support efforts to deepen not only the Port of Savannah but also the Port of Charleston, and to work closely with the state of South Carolina on regional economic development.

As reported, LaHood surprised all in his entourage yesterday as he visited Savannah, by making the public statement that said, in effect, the “Port of Savannah must be deepened.”  It was far more than Georgia Ports Authority or Georgia's top officials had hoped to have happen during the visit. according to those in the group. 

Appartently, LaHood delivered a message, and talked with Georgia’s top political leaders ... encouraging them to agree to work in support of South Carolina’s statement goals for its Charleston port – versus trying to compete with them for finite federal dollars. 

“Georgia has fought long and hard to deepen the Port of Savannah, and we’re experiencing great progress on that front,” Deal said today.  “We see the Port of Savannah deepening as a boon to the economy of the Southeast, not just Georgia. This is a regional effort; that’s why we give our support to deepening the Port of Charleston. Many South Carolina exports leave the country from Savannah and many Georgia exports leave out of Charleston. The ports of Savannah and Charleston are partners, not competitors. We’re in a new day with bigger ships, and we need deeper ports. We must work together across state lines to the benefit of Georgians and South Carolinians alike.”

"I am grateful for the cooperation of Gov. Haley and others in South Carolina as we work toward progress on both the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project and expansion of the Charleston Harbor, together which will benefit the entire Southeast,” Chambliss said in the joint statement. “It is imperative that we all work together to ensure our region is not left behind after the expansion of the Panama Canal."

“It is critical for Georgia and South Carolina to work together in expanding both our ports to accommodate larger ships and to remain competitive,” said Isakson. “The positive economic impact of expanding both ports is undeniable, not just for our individual states, but for the entire region and the nation. I will continue to do all that I can to help in this partnership between Georgia and South Carolina."

Several weeks ago, Governor Haley of South Carolina made positive statements about supporting the river deepening, the first that had been issued by a top South Carolina official, an important step...and an indication that her office was going to reduce its opposition to the deepening. 

Savannah Democratic political leaders who are close to the Obama Administration have told the Savannah Business Journal that the President 'is not going to tick off South Carolina or the environmentalists - both are too important."   Looks like instead, a regional compromise to invest in both ports is in the offing.   

Oh... and to clear up another matter....Senator Chambliss, who was in Savannah on Monday in advance of the LaHood visit, made a statement about federal funding for the Savannah river project that was not correctly interpreted by a Savannah media company,  according to his Washington, D.C. press office.  

The Senator is concerned that projects such as the deepening which have traditionally been paid for as  part of earmark legislation, be approached in a different manner.  He stated that he wants to look at the methods of federal funding for such projects – in support of the deepening and other such projects.