CBS eyes Kanjorski earmark

A Nanticoke lawmaker was interviewed by a crew from “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric” about a $5.6 million federal grant secured by U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski. The report is set to air tonight.

State Rep. John Yudichak, D-Nanticoke, said the broadcast will examine earmarks, specifically the grant that was intended to fund a parking garage in downtown Nanticoke. That project, which ties into the revitalization of the city’s downtown, has been downgraded to a surface parking lot.

Yudichak said he told a CBS reporter that Kanjorski tried to transfer the money to other projects in the 11th Congressional District – one to the Hotel Sterling in Wilkes-Barre, and one to a Scranton project.

Chris Scholl produced the segment and Sharyl Attkisson will report the story. Scholl declined to discuss details of the report but confirmed it is scheduled to air tonight during the 6:30 broadcast.

Nanticoke officials were upset when they learned the $5.6 million may have been redirected to other projects. Kanjorski has since met with the city officials to assure them the money is still available for the Nanticoke project.

Yudichak said he believes tonight’s report will focus on how Kanjorski, a 12-term Democrat, treats the federal funds as “free money.”

“I told them I was appalled by such a statement,” Yudichak said. “We are talking about taxpayers’ dollars that must be treated with as much transparency and openness as possible and spent with as much due diligence as possible to assure the best return on those tax dollars.”

A spokeswoman in Kanjorski’s Washington office said the $5.6 million is meant to help build sufficient parking and to complete related street improvements for the Kanjorski Center in Nanticoke. Luzerne County Community College is negotiating a lease-purchase agreement with the Kanjorski Center for the school’s health sciences center.

Yudichak fully supports the project, but questions Kanjorski’s treatment of earmark.

“We’re trying to fight to revitalize a small town in Pennsylvania and we’re fighting a congressman who treats federal earmarks as if they are his own money,” Yudichak said. “I’m not trying to pick a fight; I am trying to fund a project that can change the face of Nanticoke and improve its future.”

He said that if Kanjorski agrees the $5.6 million is still available for streetscaping and parking, he welcomes the efforts.

“I hope he does support it,” Yudichak said. “Because we are trying to keep the money in Nanticoke doesn’t mean anyone is trying to take his seat in Congress. We will fight every inch of the way to assure that the money gets spent to revitalize downtown Nanticoke.

Yudichak’s father, Joseph, a Plymouth Township supervisor, was featured in a Fox News report in May that looked at Kanjorski’s involvement with the bankrupt Cornerstone Technologies, a research company that received more than $9 million in federal grants and contracts. The company was operated by Kanjorski’s daughter and four of his nephews.

Joseph Yudichak and Kanjorski were once friends and Yudichak was appointed by Kanjorski to be the executive director of the Regional Equipment Center.

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State Rep. Yudichak questions Congressman’s effort to divert $5.6 million grant for Nanticoke parking garage.

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