This is his second controversy of the week.
And, not to sound provincial, but New Jersey and Connecticut are the highest income states in the country, and send a lot more to the Federal Government than we get back. I just don't think our road projects should be eliminated in retribution for supporting Amtrak. It would be like eliminating road projects for Iowa in response to their requests for farm subsidies. Cut Amtrak, cut the farm subsidies, but save the retribution for Democrats, not other Republicans in swing districts.
I am unclear, is that an argument for preserving out-of-control gov't spending?
Lately, I haven't heard too many Republicans making that argument. I have heard alot of loonie leftists like Lawrence O'Donnell making that argument. Maybe, instead of demanding your money back in the form of increased gov't spending, a more productive, conservative approach would be to demand that the 'progressive' nature of tax code be revised by cutting marginal rates for high-income earners.
" It would be like eliminating road projects for Iowa in response to their requests for farm subsidies."
I'm trying to figure out why that would be a bad thing. There is only so much money to go around.
Istook sent out a memo asking the members to prioritize the money for their districts. Those members made Amtrak their priority.
He asked them what they wanted to do. They told him Amtrak. End of story.