Posted on 12/24/2009 9:24:07 AM PST by raybbr
A walking path along the Naugatuck River. A better public safety communications system in Enfield. More than $28 million to support local homeless assistance programs in Connecticut.
Those are just some of the projects for which U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd recently helped win federal funding. And that laundry list of goodies doesn't even include the possibility of $100 million for a new University of Connecticut hospital that was slipped into the health care overhaul bill last weekend.
The politically vulnerable Democrat has been criticized for using the promise of federal money to bolster his chances of winning re-election in 2010. Dodd, a 30-year incumbent, has suffered in polls due, in part, to the perception that he is a Washington insider who is out of touch with the everyday concerns of state residents.
"He's got to show he cares about Connecticut, and one really important way to show that is to make sure money comes back," said Diana Evans, a professor of political science at Trinity College in Hartford and author of "Greasing the Wheels: Using Pork Barrel Projects to Build Majority Coalitions in Congress."
But, Evans said, "Any member who is in so much trouble electorally as he is has to walk a thin line on this, not seeming to go overboard on earmarks."
Fergus Cullen, executive director of the Yankee Institute for Public Policy, a think tank that advocates smaller government, said the potential for UConn to receive $100 million in federal money is "exactly the sort of you-scratch-my-back, I'll-scratch-yours log-rolling that leads to ever higher federal spending and ever higher deficits."
Republican critics say the health care bill, in particular, is loaded with incentives to sweeten the pot for lawmakers who once opposed the plan, including extra Medicaid funds for Nebraska, home to Sen. Ben Nelson...
(Excerpt) Read more at courant.com ...
Would you expect anything less from an elitist?
Even defiant criminals claim innocence and “not guilty” while being unapologetic for their deeds.
The backed into a corner lying rat, knowing he can’t lie his way out, turns bald facedly ad says: “ Oh yeah! whatcha gonna do about it?”
The Audaicty of Hubris.
Peter Schiff is running for Dodd’s seat:
http://schiffforsenate.com/?q=about
He correctly predicted the economic mess we are in years ago.
Just kick them out. Nothing good ever came from this thug.
It’s time to strip Congress of it’s benefits.
*hits head against wall*
Back in the 70’s when my wife was a teenager, she was involved in a car accident with Dodd. He hit her car, exchanged information and told her to call with damages.
When she called, he denied the accident, said it wasn’t him involved and told her to go away. Unknown to Dodd, she had a witness. When she told him about the witness, he changed his story and admitted his involvement.
Tells alot about a guy’s character, doesn’t it. Once a snake and liar, always a snake and liar.
I find your comparison photos repugnant.
Why in God’s name would you insult an innocent Horned Toad?
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