Sauerberg gets ally in blasting Durbin for earmarks (Tom Coburn comes to town)

A chief opponent of so-called pork barrel spending, Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, came to candidate Steve Sauerberg's aid Friday and blasted Sen. Dick Durbin on earmarks.

"If we have many more Dick Durbins, my grandkids will have no more future in this country," Coburn said of Durbin, tying his colleagues' earmarking to the nation's deficit.

Sauerberg has long hammered Durbin on earmarks, the often-criticized process by which lawmakers can land federal funds for local projects by attaching them to various pieces of legislation.

But if elected, the Willowbrook physician has not pledged he won't seek earmarks himself. He promised Friday to only seek them if they have a direct federal interest. He also supports legislation to make the earmarking process more transparent.

Durbin spokeswoman Christina Angarola said the Springfield Democrat is proud of his earmarks, which include projects ranging from the expansion of O'Hare International Airport to flood protection along the Des Plaines River.

"Those federal dollars coming back to Illinois help keep important projects moving forward and property taxes down across the state," she said.

Sauerberg said bringing home money is fine, but he took issue with the secrecy of the process and the ability of lawmakers to take credit for taxpayer-funded projects.

"I have no problem with making the world a better place," he said. "I just don't want it done sneaking behind the back door and promoting Dick Durbin or anyone else as the reason for any spending."

Coburn acknowledged Friday Sauerberg faces an uphill battle in his charge against Durbin, the second highest-ranking Senate Democrat. Yet, the fellow physician said he flew in Friday to hold a news conference and fundraiser because he was passionate on earmark reform.

"The reason I am here is that there is a lot of hope," Coburn said. "I hope for change."

http://www.moveondickdurbin.org/

America's Most Liberal Senator. That's right, due to his extreme tax and spend, pro-illegal immigrant policies, the National Journal recently rated Dick Durbin more liberal than Senators Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy and every other Democrat in the U.S. Senate.
Making Life Easier for Illegal Immigrants. Dick Durbin is championing the effort to grant illegal immigrants amnesty and taxpayer funded benefits.
Compared Our Troops To Nazis. Dick Durbin compared U.S. Troops to the Nazi, Soviet and Pol Pot Regimes in a speech on the Senate floor.
37 Years on the Taxpayer Payroll. Dick Durbin has spent 37 years on the taxpayer payroll and continually accepts pay raises even though Illinois taxpayers receive the 5th worst return in federal government spending on the taxes we send to Washington. Dick Durbin has allowed Illinois to become America's ATM. Durbin even admits he does nothing in the Senate to earn his paycheck.
De-Fund Our Troops/Surrender in Iraq. Dick Durbin voted to link needed funding for our troops to a timetable for withdrawal in Iraq.
Border In-security. Dick Durbin continually votes against funding for critical border security measures, such as a wall and aerial surveillance of our border.
Anti-Affordable, Quality Healthcare. Dick Durbin has voted against efforts to make healthcare more affordable for taxpayers and seniors and wants to decrease our healthcare quality by socializing medicine. Dick Durbin even voted against Medicare Part D, which saves seniors over $1,100 per year on drug costs.
Pro-Ultra Liberal MoveOn.Org. Dick Durbin was one of only 25 members of the Senate who voted against condemning the radical ultra-liberal MoveOn.org’s baseless personal attack on Four Star General David Petraeus
Anti-Taxpayer. Dick Durbin has repeatedly voted against tax cuts that have saved Illinois taxpayers over $2,200 per year.
Extreme on Abortion. Dick Durbin voted to allow partial-birth abortion, human cloning, and minors to cross state lines for an abortion in order to avoid parental notification laws.

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