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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />The state government has the responsibility to advise our congres- <br />sional delegation of a suggested priority and funding schedule. We <br />hope that this funding schedule will be realistic. I don't think <br />this board intends to downgrade any project. We intend to push with <br />all the resources at our command to see that all nine projects are <br />constructed. We are not going to give up on a one of them, OMB not- <br />withstanding. I think if we keep on we are going to get them, but <br />we do have to have some selective approach in view of the President's <br />opposition. <br /> <br />Mr. Goldsmith: Going back to Si's point earlier there with respect <br />to the fact that Fruitland Mesa in effect might be number one on the <br />priority list for construction funds, wouldn't you still have to <br />interpret it to mean that if it went I, 2, 3, 4, and Fruitland Mesa <br />ended up number 4, that the congressional delegation would be enti- <br />tled to assume that this board felt that planning funds on three <br />other projects really had a higher priority than construction funds <br />on Fruitland Mesa? <br /> <br />Mr. Sparks: Yes, I think that is a correct interpretation. <br /> <br />Mr. Goldsmith: Okay. <br /> <br />Mr. Stapleton: Well, I want to speak generally. I don't think any <br />project has any vested right to be number one. If I could find <br />something that would indicate to me that this is the case, it would <br />make a decision fairly simple. <br /> <br />Mr. Goldsmith: But it is a start on construction, if I could kind of <br />insert that thought back in there again. <br /> <br />Mr. Stapleton: What we are trying to do is make some meaningful sug- <br />gestions to our congressional delegation based upon the best judg~ <br />ment we have. As I said at the beginning of the meeting, you and <br />some others, if you are not first, you will be disappointed. That <br />is to be expected. <br /> <br />Mr. Goldsmith: We can graciously accept the fact that we haven't <br />been persuasive to you as a member of this board, but we did appre- <br />ciate an opportunity to kind of have a crack at it. <br /> <br />Mr. Stapleton: Not at all, I appreciate that. Are there any further <br />questions? <br /> <br />-48- <br />