UPDATED: Jindal a volcano-watcher hater?

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It was expected that Jindal wouldn't have much good to say about the stimulus package. But the specific items in that package he chose to highlight as examples of particularly egregious waste were head-scratching: $300 million to buy new government cars, $8 billion for high-speed rail projects. What he seemed to find most insulting, though was that the package contained $140 million "for something called volcano monitoring. Instead of monitoring volcanoes, what Congress should be monitoring is the eruption of spending in Washington," he said.

Surely he could have done better than this. What's so wrong with high-speed rail projects, or even government cars when we're trying to prop up our car industry? But what's really puzzling is his hostility to our own Alaska Volcano Observatory, which Republican Ted Stevens worked hard to get for us. You know, the one that's staffed by earnest USGS scientists who provide really cools photos and daily updates of Mount Redoubt, and the one that will warn us when and if there she finally blows. Maybe someone should explain it like this: It's kind of like a regional NOAA, except it monitors volcanoes instead of hurricanes.

I'm waiting from responses from our congressional delegation. Will let you know when they come.

UPDATE: Here's what Sen. Mark Begich has to say.

"Volcano monitoring is incredibly important in Alaska. As we know from past experience, volcanic eruptions can impact airplanes, public health, and the economy.

Alaskans remember the eruption of Mount Redoubt in December of 1989 when a Boeing 747 lost all four engines. The aircraft was able to restart and land safely, but the damage was estimated at $80 million. There were also numerous flight cancellations, delays and diversions at Anchorage airports and Elmendorf Air Force Base due to the eruption.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory monitors 31 Alaskan volcanoes and works closely with other federal, state and municipal agencies to ensure public safety and minimize disruptions.

Gov. Jindal and others who might question this funding should first get educated about the realities and dangers an eruption can pose. I would urge lawmakers to avoid flip sound bites without knowing the full impact of their statements and the topic they are addressing."