Sen. Graham Proposes 'Merit-Based' Port Funding

Gone are the days of earmarks. In it's place, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina is hoping to establish a merit-based system for the country's many ports that would drive economic development. Graham visited Charleston Monday and talked about the legislation with the S.C. Ports Authority Board of Directors. 

"I just cannot fix Charleston without earmarking. And earmarking is a bad practice in the sense that you just look to your backyard," Graham said. "We're trying to replace the whole system with a new one."

The proposed legislation would set aside $20 billion for United States ports and inland ports. Of that money, $9 billion would go toward East Coast ports deepening to allow for the new Panamax depths of 50 feet. Other money would go toward inland ports or for relieving congestion around West Coast ports.

Charleston's port has been inching slowly toward deepening and is currently on schedule for a draft report to be ready by 2014. Federal funding will make up 40 percent of deepening costs. By the merit system, Graham said Charleston's port would be in good shape to receive federal money.

Graham said he expects bipartisan support from around the nation for the legislation. 

"This is a godsend for everybody," Graham said. "This port is not going to be deepened by rhetoric. It's going to be deepened by a plan."